The 49ers' trio of big-name stars needing extensions wrapped up with news Fred Warner is receiving a new contract, and the Niners needed this.
The San Francisco 49ers quietly admitted they made mistakes in previous years by waiting too long to extend their star players.
They weren't going to make the same sort of mistake this go-around.
Already, the Niners extended All-Pro tight end George Kittle earlier this offseason. They then followed that up with a blockbuster five-year extension for quarterback Brock Purdy, which effectively left All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner next in line among stars who needed new deals heading into 2025.
Just days after news of Purdy's contract broke, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported San Francisco reached an agreement with the star backer on a three-year extension worth up to $63 million, $56 million of which is guaranteed:
ESPN Sources: Four-time All-Pro LB Fred Warner and the 49ers reached agreement on a three-year, $63 million contract extension that includes over $56 million in guaranteed money that makes him the NFL’s highest-paid linebacker. It marks the second time in his seven-year NFL… pic.twitter.com/L4GHK7h4Vy
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 19, 2025
Warner was scheduled to hit free agency after the 2026 season, but his new deal now adds more guaranteed money back into the fray while keeping him around through 2029, assuming the new contract isn't tearing up the final year of the four-time Pro Bowler's pre-existing deal.
Either way, the 49ers needed to handle their contractual business in this manner.
49ers learned their lesson not to delay extensions
Extensions for Kittle, Purdy and Warner so early in the offseason break a troubling trend the Niners had, previously: waiting late into the offseason to finalize such discussions.
Granted, the newfound approach might have been easier in the aftermath of a cost-cutting initiative that prompted San Francisco to bid farewell to some notable talent, including wide receiver Deebo Samuel.
However, Samuel's contemptuous extension talks back in 2022 helped kickstart a trend of the 49ers waiting until well after markets developed and even into training camp before extending star players. A year later, the Niners didn't finalize an extension with All-Pro defensive end Nick Bosa until right before the regular season began. And wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk's own controversial extension drama in 2024 nearly cut into the regular season, too.
All the while, markets evolved and changed, and awaiting players opted to hold out, hold in or at least show signs of being disgruntled.
The fact San Francisco opted not to delay negotiations with three of its biggest stars, now including Warner, shows it learned a valuable, valuable lesson.
Don't wait.