The San Francisco 49ers lost plenty of talent in free agency, but they have spent the second half of the offseason rewarding some of their best players. First, tight end George Kittle received a four-year, $76.4 million extension, then quarterback Brock Purdy got his long-awaited deal in the form of a five-year, $265 million contract.
Now, linebacker Fred Warner has cashed in.
On Thursday, the 49ers officially announced the signing of Warner to a three-year extension. According to CBS Sports NFL insider Jonathan Jones, the deal is worth $63 million, making him the highest-paid off-ball linebacker in the NFL. The deal includes a whopping $56.7 million in guaranteed money.
“Fred’s leadership is exemplary and his approach to his craft is contagious,” said general manager John Lynch in a statement. “Fred sets the tone for our entire team with the consistency, speed and physicality with which he plays. Off the field, his passion, energy, and professionalism are second to none and truly embody what it means to be a Niner. We are extremely proud to get this extension done and lock Fred in for the future.”
Warner had two more years remaining on his original contract, but his new AAV of $21 million surpasses the $20 million AAV of Baltimore Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith. This is the second time Warner has signed an extension that made him the highest-paid off-ball linebacker in the league. He is one of two players with four First Team All-Pro selections over the past five seasons, joining Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett.
Warner has recorded at least 118 combined tackles in all seven of his NFL seasons, and has made three straight Pro Bowls to go along with three straight First Team All-Pro nods. This past season, he didn’t miss a single game despite fracturing a bone in his ankle in the Week 4 victory over the New England Patriots.
“It’s something I deal with every…
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