Shanahan Expects Fred Warner Extension

Fred Warner has become one of the NFL’s best linebackers. He joins Nick Bosa as a cornerstone front-seven 49ers piece on a rookie contract. Kyle Shanahan expects that status to change in the near future.

One year remains on Warner’s rookie pact. Although the former third-round pick’s salary is set to spike to $3.38MM this season, he will command top-tier off-ball linebacker money on an extension. The 49ers appear prepared to pay him as such.

I want to get it done personally,” Shanahan said of a Warner extension (via NFL.com). “I kind of feel like I’d say the same about him as I did about [George] Kittle when we were talking about it [last year]. I just see that kind of as a matter of time.

I know he’s not going into his free agent year or anything like that, so that’s why it’s not always on my mind. But Fred’s a guy that I plan on being here forever and who has earned that. I’d be surprised if that doesn’t start sooner than later.”

Warner earned first-team All-Pro acclaim in 2020, when he made 125 tackles and graded as Pro Football Focus’ No. 1 off-ball linebacker (by far). The 24-year-old defender said Tuesday he wants to be a “Niner for life.”

The 49ers have exclusive negotiating rights with Warner until the start of the 2022 league year next March. They would have the franchise tag at their disposal, should a deal remain elusive. Kittle signed his top-market extension last August, ahead of his fourth season. Warner may be on a similar timetable. No talks have begun just yet, but they appear imminent.

C.J. Mosley‘s $17MM-per-year contract has yet to benefit the Jets, but the 2019 deal changed the market for traditional linebackers. Bobby Wagner then topped it, via an $18MM-AAV pact, later that year. Both Warner and Darius Leonard are entering contract years; one of them will be in line to surpass Wagner’s deal and perhaps become the league’s first $20MM-per-year non-rush ‘backer.

View Comments (1)