49ers roster 2023: Fred Warner must aim to earn 3rd All-Pro nod this year

49ers linebacker Fred Warner is already at the pinnacle of his position, but he can aim for yet another first-team All-Pro nod in 2023.

There isn't too much left for San Franciso 49ers linebacker Fred Warner to achieve on a first-time basis.

He's already a Pro Bowler. He's a two-time first-team All-Pro, too. On top of that, both NFL.com and Pro Football Focus ranked Warner as the No. 1 linebacker heading into the 2023 season.

Only a handful of individual accolades available to Warner at this stage of his career are missing. He might never get a league MVP award (unless he starts playing quarterback), but Warner could ultimately be in the discussion for Defensive Player of the Year.

For now, though, another first-team All-Pro accolade would wholly cement him as one of the greatest of his current generation.

Not only was Warner the No. 1 linebacker in the league last season, according to PFF and NFL.com, but he helped comprise what PFF also regarded as the No. 1 linebacker corps in the league, too, with fellow backer Dre Greenlaw playing a big role and also finishing on both lists at No. 8 overall among all players.

Of those two, however, Warner clearly stands alone.

So, is there anything more for Warner to do? What could the 26-year-old team captain possibly improve upon to earn even more recognition than he already has?

Not much. But he can still strive to be better.

What are the 49ers paying Fred Warner right now?

Warner got paid after his rookie contract expired after the 2021 season, and he ultimately inked a five-year, $95.225 million contract extension that put him up at the top of paid linebackers in the league.

According to Spotrac, his annual average value is $19.045 million, and the total in guaranteed money is $40.5 million.

Warner is still relatively affordable this season with a total cap hit of $9.049 million, but that number will jump up significantly to $24.47 million in 2024, meaning there's a slight possibility the Niners' team captain could become a cap casualty.

Highly unlikely, though, especially considering his importance to San Francisco's defense.

Just how important is Fred Warner to the 49ers?

Back in 2019, when the 49ers suffered a lackluster home loss to the Atlanta Falcons, Warner explained to reporters how he could have "brought more juice" to the defense in what was truly a trap game by definition.

That right there highlights his importance to the Niners.

Warner might not be San Francisco's best defensive player, as that accolade probably goes to the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, edge Nick Bosa. But Warner is arguably more important as the defensive play-caller and tone-setter, both roles essential to the 49ers' overwhelming defensive success over the last three-plus years.

Read more: Fred Warner has an old cliché for anyone doubting 49ers quarterbacks

Provided he stays healthy, and he has a great track record of doing so, Warner will again be one of the league's leaders in tackles. He'll also be a sticky defender in coverage, too, while providing all the leadership qualities to a Niners defense that'll look to retain its spot as the No. 1 scoring unit in the NFL for two years in a row.

With Warner having registered his second first-team All-Pro nod a year ago for doing those things, it's hard to envision a repeat performance generating anything else.

Should Warner secure that third first-team All-Pro accolade, he'd go down as one of the greatest linebackers in San Francisco history and one of the absolute best from this current generation.

No big deal.

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