49ers 1st-quarter awards: MVP, least-valuable player, most improved and more

There are plenty of candidates for the Niners' first-quarter MVP, but there are also arguments for the least-valuable player and most-improved player, too.

New York Jets cornerback D.J. Reed (L) tackles San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings (R) / Thearon W. Henderson/GettyImages

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49ers 1st-quarter most-dominant player: LB Fred Warner

As anyone who watches actual NFL MVP award shows can attest, the MVP and the overall best player are often two different people.

Case in point, why was Christian McCaffrey the 2023 Offensive Player of the Year, while the Ravens' quarterback, Lamar Jackson, was league MVP? Shouldn't that award be one in the same?

Well, it's not.

Despite Jauan Jennings holding Niner Noise's title of first-quarter MVP, Fred Warner is the easy choice. And if you're doubting that, just ask former 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman:

All-Pro @fred_warner the DPOY front runner with another INT! This time a pick-6! Not sure anyone playing better on the Defensive side right now. pic.twitter.com/uEwBklotNH
— Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) September 29, 2024

Warner had a Defensive Player of the Year-caliber game in Week 2 against the Minnesota Vikings. And while the Niners ultimately lost that game, Warner backed it up with another defensive-MVP kind of performance in Week 4 against the New England Patriots, including the pick-six play shown above.

So, yes, a 2024 Defensive Player of the Year award is squarely in Warner's grasp right now.

He's San Francisco's most dominant player by far.

Honorable mention: Nick Bosa

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