No surprise, Fred Warner tops CBS Sports' list of best linebackers
By Peter Panacy
Fred Warner is again viewed as the NFL's best linebacker entering 2024, but he's not the only 49ers player to crack CBS Sports' list of the top 20.
This won't surprise you.
CBS Sports' Jordan Dajani recently compiled a list of the 20 best linebackers in the NFL heading into 2024, and the No. 1 backer was...
Fred Warner, the three-time first-team All-Pro and team captain.
A year removed from a 132-tackle campaign, the 27-year-old Warner again sets out to retain his hold on a rankings spot that plenty of NFL analysts would agree with. Heck, Warner is the primary reason why so many outlets have listed the Niners' linebacker corps as either the No. 1 or the No. 2 group in the entire league over the last three seasons.
Of Warner, Dajani wrote:
"Warner has long been one of the best linebackers in the league, and we'll give him the nod in being the top dog at his position entering 2024. Last year, the versatile defender became the only player over the last 25 seasons to record 125 tackles, four interceptions and four forced fumbles in a season."
Unless you don't pay attention to San Francisco whatsoever, and you'd likely have to be a relatively new fan to the NFL as well, this won't shock you.
But, what about Warner's perennial "partner in crime," Dre Greenlaw?
CBS Sports still includes Dre Greenlaw in top-20 list despite injury
Warner is merely one-half of the tandem that helped cement the 49ers' starting linebacker corps as arguably the league's best, the other being Greenlaw.
On the list, Greenlaw ranked 13th, and Dajani admitted the devastating Achilles tear suffered last February during the Super Bowl clouds the ranking.
Expecting him to miss at least four weeks of the regular season because of the injury, the Niners opted to sign former Green Bay Packers All-Pro backer De'Vondre Campbell to help plug the void, although Campbell failed to make CBS Sports' top-20 list here.
Things will get a bit more interesting for San Francisco upon Greenlaw's return, especially if Campbell is up to par and plays at a high level alongside Warner.
That said, having "too much of a good thing" is a good problem for the 49ers as they campaign to get back to the Super Bowl again this season.
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