Barnwell thinks Warner would be DPOY if season ended today originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
If the 2024 NFL season ended today, says Bill Barnwell Fred Warner, 49ers star linebacker would leave with the best defensive equipment in the league.
Through four games, ESPN writer picked his early favorites to win the NFL’s most prestigious awards, such as MVP, Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and others.
For Barnwell, it was a no-brainer for Defensive Player of the Year.
“I don’t think you’ll hear much argument from people suggesting that Warner is anything other than a great football player,” Barnwell wrote. “In a league in which the meta is all about manipulating and isolating linebackers in pass coverage, he has been the exception for several years in a row.
“His snap with CeeDee Lamb as a Tampa-2 pole defender in the 2022 playoffs is one of the best reps you’ll ever see from a coverage linebacker given the circumstances and the game.”
Warner cried this season, crediting his father’s “strength” for early dominance in his seventh professional season. During the first four competitions, Warner has 27 tacklesfour passes defended, a league-leading three forced fumbles, two interceptions – one incredible 45-yard pick-six against the New England Patriots – and a quarterback hit.
He also achieves many intangibles that don’t always show up on a stat sheet but are impact plays, not to mention that the atmosphere and intensity he brings is in itself part of the dominant culture of defense.
“Warner is doing this for a 49ers defense that needs him right now,” Barnwell continued. “Dre Greenlaw is still on the PUP list after tearing an Achilles tendon in the Super Bowl, while Javon Hargrave is out for the season and Talanoa Hufanga has only played 53 snaps. The 49ers have an excellent dismissal rate , but they are only slightly above league average (13th) in pressure rate. They need Warner to be great.
“In four games, he had more impact than any other defensive player in the league.”
Warner is doubtful for San Francisco’s NFC West matchup with the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, but there’s no doubt he’ll return to his DPOY ways as soon as he steps on the field.
