49ers Reportedly Eyeing Fred Warner Contract Extension After Brock Purdy Deal

Having taken care of contracts for George Kittle and Brock Purdy, the San Francisco 49ers' next big deal this offseason could go to Fred Warner.

According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, the 49ers are looking to potentially extend Warner in part to reduce his cap hits over the next two seasons.

After going through contract drama several times in recent years, the 49ers are having a fairly calm offseason so far. Purdy agreed to a five-year, $265 million extension on Friday, his agent confirmed to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

Kittle agreed to a four-year, $76.4 million extension on April 29 that made him the highest-paid tight end in NFL history.

It seems like the 49ers were waiting to get those deals done—since both Purdy and Kittle were entering the final season of their previous contracts— before focusing on Warner.

The Athletic's Michael Silver reported on April 21 the Niners had not yet engaged in "substantive talks" with Warner's camp about an extension. Warner didn't seem too concerned about where things stood when he spoke during the team's offseason workouts last month.

"I get paid plenty already," Warner told reporters on April 22. "But listen, that whole part of it, I know my agent, and the team, and all that, that'll all handle itself out. I'm just, obviously, ready to just go to work and be the best version of myself."

Warner has two years remaining on the five-year, $95.2 million contract he signed in July 2021. His cap hits for the next two seasons are $29.2 million and $26.7 million.

An extension would almost certainly bring those numbers down. It could also make Warner the highest-paid linebacker in the NFL by average annual salary. His current AAV of $19 million ranks second at the position, behind Roquan Smith of the Baltimore Ravens ($20 million).

Warner is generally regarded as the best linebacker in the league right now. The 28-year-old has been named to the All-Pro first team in each of the past three seasons and four times in five seasons since 2020.

Given how important Warner is to what San Francisco wants to do on defense, it would seem likely there will be very little drama around his contract.