placeholder image

Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports


49ers’ Fred Warner the only non-DB named to Next Gen Stats’ top 10 coverage players

Jun 4, 2021 at 3:40 PM--


Videos are auto-populated by an affiliate. This site has no control over the videos that appear above.
Fred Warner is a pretty good defensive back ... er ... linebacker. Wait a minute...

Nick Shook of NFL Media published a ranking of the top 10 coverage players in the NFL from 2020, and one player seems to be out of place. Warner of the San Francisco 49ers is a linebacker. Everyone else on the list is a defensive back.

The list was created using several advanced metrics.

"We set a minimum of 300 coverage snaps and 40 targets to achieve legitimate volume among qualifiers," Shook explained. "Players also had to finish with a catch rate allowed that was below expectation, a negative targeted expected points added (a metric used to quantify how much an individual player impacted an opponents' scoring potential), a tight window percentage of at least 20 percent (15 percent for linebackers -- more on that later) -- and a maximum passer rating allowed of 80. These requirements pared down the candidates to only those with the most well-rounded production."

Those metrics were combined with each player's target rate, average separation, ballhawk rate, and other Next Gen Stats to identify those who were the best in coverage.

It's not just the Next Gen Stats that prove Warner's value in coverage. The linebacker's 91.1 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus last season ranked second among all defenders with a qualifying number of snaps.

"Warner's numbers were freakishly good for a linebacker," wrote Shook, "a position that typically requires a read step to detect whether the play is a run or a pass before a player can then act on the play (giving pass catchers an advantage at the start), yet he still forced tight windows at a 16 percent rate, clearing the minimum requirement we set for linebackers in this exercise. His catch rate allowed below expectation of -16.5 percent is the best mark in that category for any qualifying player since 2017.

"Let's also consider he allowed a completion rate of just 54 percent, the lowest by any linebacker in the Next Gen Stats era (dating back to 2016, with a minimum of 50 targets)."

Warner is preparing to enter his fourth NFL season and the final year of his rookie contract. The former third-round pick has already proven to be one of the best linebackers in the game, and any contract extension will have to reflect that. Head coach Kyle Shanahan recently stated that he expects Warner to be a Niner forever.

"Obviously, I want to be a Niner for life, too, right?" Warner told reporters last week. "I know all that stuff will work itself out in due time, and I'm just focused on being the best player I can for this team."

Mike Tannenbaum, ESPN's NFL front office insider, recently said that Warner "should be at the very high end of the market" and that the floor for any deal would likely be an annual salary of $15 million. That's the minimum. It will likely be more. One comparable player might be Bobby Wagner of the Seattle Seahawks, who earns $18 million annually.

Warner has led the 49ers in tackles during each of his three NFL seasons. He recorded five tackles for a loss, seven quarterback hits, one sack, two interceptions, and six passes defensed to go with his team-leading 125 tackles.

"Now, for the cherry on top: Warner rushed the passer 93 times in 2020 and recorded 13 pressures, both the highest totals of his career," Shook added. "Warner has proven he deserves to be mentioned among the league's best."

Warner earned Pro Football Focus' highest overall grade (88.6) among linebackers last season, on the way to his first Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro honors.



Facebook Comments



More San Francisco 49ers News


placeholder image

No Huddle Podcast: What Are The 49ers' Plans For The Future?

By Site Staff
Mar 19

(Episode 322) — Al Sacco and Brian Renick react to the Zach Wilson rumors, what the 49ers should look for in QB2, negative Al speaks up, how the offensive side of the ball is complete for now, replacing all of the superstars will be a challenge, why the 49ers need to draft well this year and next, and more. Note: This episode was recorded before news of Josh Dobbs' signing. The audio for the show is embedded above. Remember to subscribe! You can listen to the latest "No Huddle Podcast" episode above, from our dedicated podcast page, on


placeholder image

5 things to know about new 49ers QB Joshua Dobbs

By Kirk Larrabee
Mar 18

Joshua Dobbs became the latest addition to the San Francisco 49ers' quarterback room after agreeing to a one-year contract with the team on Monday. Dobbs, 28, has 2,920 passing yards in 21 games (14 starts) with 15 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in seven NFL seasons. He also has 91 carries for 496 yards and six rushing touchdowns and a 3-11 record overall as a starter. Dobbs comes to 49ers as a well-traveled NFL veteran who most recently was with the Minnesota Vikings. But Dobbs isn't any ordinary NFL quarterback. Let's take a look at what to know about him as he begins his time with the 49ers. The Joshua Dobbs "world tour" reaches San Francisco The 49ers are Dobbs' eighth team since joining the NFL as a fourth-round draft pick of


placeholder image

Details emerge on 49ers' 1-year deals with Jon Feliciano and Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles

By Site Staff
Mar 19

Offensive lineman Jon Feliciano and linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles recently re-signed with the San Francisco 49ers on one-year deals. OverTheCap.com has revealed the contract information for both deals. Feliciano signed a contract that includes the minimum base salary for a player with eight accrued seasons of experience—$1.21 million. Flannigan-Fowles' base salary is slightly higher, at about $1.77 million. Feliciano is scheduled to count about $2.28 million against the 2024 salary cap, while Flannigan-Fowles is slated to consume almost $1.3 million. The linebacker's reduced impact is due to the 49ers using a portion of up to $1.45 million of salary that won't count against the salary cap for veteran players. The 49ers are paying Feliciano a


placeholder image

New Netflix show "Receiver" will feature 49ers' Deebo Samuel and George Kittle

By David Bonilla
Mar 19

After the success of "Quarterback," the NFL has announced a new series on Netflix called "Receiver." This series will follow a similar format but focus on those who haul in passes. San Francisco 49ers fans will be delighted to learn that two popular team players, wide receiver Deebo Samuel and tight end George Kittle, will be among those featured in the upcoming show. The two 49ers stars are among the most charismatic individuals on the roster, so it's easy to see why they were chosen for the series. The other stars of the show will be Davante Adams of the Las Vegas Raiders, Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings, and Amon-Ra St. Brown of the Detroit


Latest

Trending News

Share 49ersWebzone