"Winters has not become a star but made tremendous strides during a 101-tackle 2025 campaign," Gagnon wrote. "He's not a lock to have a long starting career, but he's certainly a factor while working through a four-year, $4.0 million rookie deal."
San Francisco selected Winters out of TCU in the sixth round (No. 216 overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft. He is now entering the final year of that rookie contract after starting 17 games during the 2025 season.
His role could shift in 2026, however, with Dre Greenlaw returning to the 49ers following a one-season stint with the Denver Broncos. Even so, Winters proved his value last season by stepping into a full-time role.
While his 101 tackles stand out, his evaluations from Pro Football Focus suggest there is still room for growth. Winters posted a 60.1 defensive grade, along with marks of 64.3 in run defense, 53.2 in tackling, 56.4 as a pass rusher, and 59.6 in coverage.
Still, the 49ers getting 17 starts and triple-digit tackles from a player earning just over $1 million last season underscores why Winters belongs on Gagnon's underpaid list. He'll see a nice pay bump in 2026, though, as he is set to earn a base salary of nearly $3.7 million through the NFL's proven performance escalator.
Beyond the tackle total, Winters added eight tackles for loss, three quarterback hits, an interception returned for a touchdown, and five passes defensed in 2025.
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