Fred Warner

40 tackles in 4 games and 3 pass breakups, 7 tackles last week. the best off ball linebacker alive, 4-0 team and he's the leader

33 tackles in 3 games is absurd and he's got 2 forced fumbles too. 17 tackles vs arizona. best off ball lb in the league imo, sideline to sideline and never out of position. niners are 3-0.

Warner is still the brain of this defense. He gets everyone lined up, covers way more ground than a normal middle linebacker and can take away throws that offenses usually love against linebackers. Even in only six games last season he had 51 tackles, three pass breakups and two forced fumbles. The obvious issue is that we only got six games after years of counting on him every week. I am not ready to treat that as a permanent decline, especially with his track record, but it does add some uncertainty entering 2026. At full strength he is a nine-level linebacker. For now I have him at eight until we see the old range hold up over a full stretch.

Strengths: His coverage ability is what separates him. Warner reads route combinations early, has the speed to carry players down the seam and closes throwing windows quarterbacks expect to be open. He is also an excellent communicator and a reliable tackler who creates turnovers without constantly gambling himself out of position.

Weaknesses: The biggest question is availability after playing only six games in 2025. He can also be moved when a much larger blocker reaches him cleanly, so the front needs to keep him free to run. If the lost season has taken even a little of his closing speed, it would affect the part of his game that makes him special.