When the 49ers chose to select a linebacker with their third-round pick in last year’s draft, many fans initially wondered what the need was. San Francisco’s brain trust selected linebacker Reuben Foster the year before and handed out a large contract to former Raider Malcolm Smith.
Yet 10 games into this season, the most consistent defensive player on the 49ers behind corner Richard Sherman is linebacker Fred Warner. Leading the 49ers in combined tackles (77), Warner is ranked top-10 in the entire league in this category.
This past week, I thought Warner had a fantastic game — his best of the season — just due to his versatility on the field.