San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner motions throughout an NFL wild card recreation in opposition to Seattle in Santa Clara, Calif., Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023. Warner was rated the No. 9 draft steal of the previous decade, and the highest defender, by a pair of ESPN NFL writers. Jed Jacobsohn, Related Press
Fred Warner has been a starter from Day 1 since he was taken by the San Francisco 49ers within the 2018 NFL draft, and he’s turn into one of many high linebackers within the league over the previous 5 years.
It’s little shock, then, that on Wednesday the previous BYU star was included when ESPN’s Matt Miller and Jordan Reid launched their checklist of the highest 50 NFL draft steals of the previous decade.
It was obvious that Warner could be excessive on the checklist — his photograph seems alongside a number of different gamers — extensive receiver Terry McLaurin, tight finish Travis Kelce, quarterback Dak Prescott and defensive finish Maxx Crosby — on the high of the story.
Warner, in reality, sits at No. 9 on the checklist.
That's the highest of any defensive participant.
“Warner entered the NFL as a evenly heralded prospect from BYU who ran a 4.64-second 40-yard sprint at 230 kilos. He in the end was the ninth linebacker drafted within the 2018 class,” Miller wrote.
“Warner rapidly outplayed that third-round draft spot and has arguably been the NFL’s most constant linebacker since arriving in San Francisco. He hasn’t missed a begin in 5 years and is a two-time first-team All-Professional.”
What have been the principles governing ESPN’s draft steals checklist?
Miller and Reid laid out three guidelines in figuring out their draft steals rankings:
- First-round picks and undrafted gamers weren't thought-about.
- No 2023 draft picks have been thought-about, as they haven’t performed a season but.
- For a participant to qualify, they should have been drafted at the very least 15 spots later than anticipated, “and that’s simply the ground for the train.”
What has Fred Warner carried out as a professional?
The 26-year-old Warner — who performed at BYU from 2014-17 — was a third-rounder and the seventieth general choose within the 2018 NFL draft.
He’s began all 81 regular-season video games he’s performed for the 49ers at center linebacker, and earned first-team NFL All-Professional honors in 2020 and 2022.
Warner has 634 profession tackles and 6.5 sacks, seven pressured fumbles, six fumble recoveries, 4 interceptions and one defensive landing over the previous 5 seasons.
The place does Fred Warner rank amongst defenders on ESPN’s draft steals checklist?
Warner is the one defensive participant who exhibits up within the high 10 of Miller and Reid’s checklist.
Kelce tops the checklist at No. 1, adopted by extensive receiver Tyreek Hill at No. 2, extensive receiver Davante Adams at No. 3, extensive receiver Cooper Kupp at No. 4 and operating again Derrick Henry at No. 5.
The remainder of the highest 10 included Prescott at No. 6, extensive receiver Stefon Diggs at No. 7, tight finish George Kittle at No. 8, and quarterback Jalen Hurts one spot behind Warner at No. 10.
There have been solely two different defenders within the checklist’s high 20 — defensive sort out Chris Jones at No. 12 and security Tyrann Mathieu at No. 16.
The one different linebacker on the checklist was Shaquille Leonard at No. 22. Leonard was drafted the identical 12 months as Warner, at No. 36 — 34 spots earlier than Warner.