San Francisco 49ers: Power ranking top 10 players entering 2020

49ers Linebacker Fred Warner

Linebacker Fred Warner might be the best defensive player in the NFL nobody outside of the team and its fans are talking about.

Since his rookie season, the Ninersmiddle linebacker has been the play-caller for the defense and essentially in charge of ensuring that the unit is set up as it needs to be.

Now entering into his third season in the league, Warner will look to take the next step towards becoming a household name, not just among 49ers fans, but throughout the league.

So far in two seasons, Warner has racked up 242 total tackles, including 10 for loss, 15 passes defended, three sacks and one interception. And yet it’s his demeanor and leadership that sets him above many other linebackers who rack of statistics.

Warner’s effort and consistency (he’s played over 1,000 snaps in each of his two seasons), along with his ability to both defend the run and cover tight ends in space, make him the prototypical modern linebacker.

Here’s hoping that 2020 is the year the rest of the league stands up and pays attention to one of the 49ers’ best players.