ESPN recently ranked the NFL's top 25 players under age 25 for 2020, the young players emerging as the next faces of the league. The ranking does not include rookies since their sample size of work remains low.

At No. 13 on the list, you will find San Francisco 49ers star linebacker Fred Warner, the first linebacker listed.


"Many were shocked when the 49ers gave up on pricey 2019 free-agent acquisition Kwon Alexander earlier this offseason, but Warner's emergence as one of the league's best linebackers made the move much easier to stomach," wrote ESPN's Mike Clay. "A third-round pick back in 2018, Warner stepped into an every-down role in his first NFL game and hasn't looked back. He has played 97% of the 49ers' defensive snaps since his debut, and has been on the field for nearly 800 more plays than any of his teammates. How's that for reliable?"

Warner has recorded a team-leading 85 tackles, four for a loss, four quarterback hits, two interceptions, and three passes defensed through 11 games this season. He has played 100 percent of the defensive snaps in seven of those games.

"Warner, of course, has also been very effective, as his [327] tackles rank 10th in the entire NFL since he was drafted. He also has 3.0 sacks, four forced fumbles, 18 passes defensed and three interceptions during the span. The 24-year-old has emerged as the anchor of one of the league's top defenses."

Warner is in his third NFL season, and the 49ers likely will look to extend him beyond next year, which is the last of his rookie deal.

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