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Fred Warner is the heart and soul of the 49ers defense. Drafted in the 3rd round in 2018, the 49ers saw a rangy hybrid linebacker who represented an evolution of the position. Warner was not meant to be the run stopping middle linebacker from a bygone era, Warner's skills perfectly matched the current state of the game. A game in which passing is emphasized by coaching and officiating, where a good QB earns $30 million a year while the very best running back can't make $15 million.
Though the 49ers drafted Warner with this in mind, they got so much more than they bargained for. Upon his arrival the 49ers hoped to pair him with Rueben Foster as their 1-2 punch at linebacker. Foster was their first-round pick from 2017, and looked to be the future of the defense. This made it even more impressive when Warner, not Foster, got the green dot on his helmet in his rookie season. The 3rd round rookie from BYU displayed the intelligence, leadership and commitment to be the defensive signal caller. By November 2018 Foster was released. Foster's poor behavior was the main reason for his release, but it's hard not to look at the development of Warner as something that made the decision that much easier. Warner was becoming what Foster was drafted to be, a team leader.
In 2019 the 49ers paired Warner with free-agent linebacker Kwon Alexander and then magic happened. Once timid, Alexander instilled confidence in Fred Warner, and in doing so, Warner's game elevated to a higher echelon. In 2018 Warner was solid, in 2019 Warner was a threat. With Warner commanding the defense the 49ers made it all the way to Super Bowl 54 and came up just short of a championship. While they may have lost a title, they found their defensive leader for the next decade in the process.
2019 Performance
Warner's statistical output saw a significant jump from 2018 to 2019. His ability to create turnovers was the most obvious area of improvement. Overall Warner recorded 118 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 9 passes defended, 1 interception and 1 touchdown. Warner did it all for the 49ers in 2019. Pro Football Focus graded Warner out at a 66.9.
2020 Cost
Warner may be the very best value player on the 49ers in 2020, considering George Kittle will get a new deal of course. The 49ers are only paying Warner $1 million this coming season.
Future Outlook
Picture Warner in red & gold for the next 10 years. His contract expires in 2021, at which point the 49ers would be foolish not to re-sign him and pay him like the cornerstone he is. His vast improvement from year 1 to year 2, coupled with his unquestionable leadership ability makes him a player the 49ers cannot afford to lose. When examining contracts of other players around the league at his position, it's fair to estimate his contract should cost the 49ers around $11-13 million per year. That will be money well spent.
49ers' Kyle Shanahan, Fred Warner praise Deion Sanders for start at Colorado
By Rohan Chakravarthi
Sep 20
The San Francisco 49ers have been a frontline story in the NFL two weeks in, starting off the season 2-0, showcasing their top units on both sides of the ball.
But, they're not the only ones showing out, and the NFL isn't the only football league in the spotlight right now.
Instead, you could argue that the most popular football team in the country isn't even in the NFL...
That moniker goes to the University of Colorado Buffaloes and new head coach Deion Sanders, who have flourished early in Year 1 of the new regime, finding themselves within the AP Top 25 for the third consecutive week.
Despite the difference in league, the 49ers are definitely paying attention to what Sanders is building at Colorado, so much so that the entire team was
Analyst: 49ers QB Brock Purdy still not top-20 after Week 1
By Rohan Chakravarthi
Sep 15
It's safe to say that the San Francisco 49ers cruised to victory in Week 1, defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-7 in a dominant victory where the team started the game with four consecutive scoring drives and five straight three-and-outs, creating an early 20-0 lead for the road team.
Offensively, the 49ers saw strong performances from running back Christian McCaffrey, who rushed for 152 yards and a touchdown, wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who caught all eight of his targets for 129 yards and two touchdowns, and Deebo Samuel, who caught five passes for 55 yards.
But, the offense was executed at a very high level, at least in the first half, courtesy of quarterback Brock Purdy, who had one of the stronger halves of his career over the first 30 minutes in
49ers vs. Rams: How to watch, stream, and listen to the Week 2 matchup
By Site Staff
Sep 13
The San Francisco 49ers hit the road for the second consecutive week as they head to SoFi Stadium to take on the Los Angeles Rams. The Niners look to earn their first NFC West win of 2023 and their ninth straight regular-season win against the Rams.
Previous game
The 49ers are coming off a 30-7 victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers. On offense, QB Brock Purdy registered a passer rating of 111.3 after completing 19 of his 29 passing attempts for 220 yards and two touchdowns to WR Brandon Aiyuk, who tallied a career-high 129 receiving yards on the day. RB Christian McCaffrey led the ground attack by notching 152 rushing yards, including a 65-yard touchdown on 22 attempts.
Defensively, the Niners registered 5.0 sacks and two interceptions on the
49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk named NFC Offensive Player of the Week
By Rohan Chakravarthi
Sep 13
The San Francisco 49ers dominated the Pittsburgh Steelers on the road in Week 1, winning 30-7 in a game where they never lost control, cruising to their first victory of the season.
While there were clear standouts on both sides of the ball, one player continued the excellent work he produced in the offseason in a monster Week 1 performance: Brandon Aiyuk, who caught all eight of his targets for 129 yards and two touchdowns.
Well, it seems like the NFL took notice, as Aiyuk was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week for Week 1, starting off his 2023 campaign with an award already.
Brandon Aiyuk:
