The San Francisco 49ers didn’t have to think things through when it came to Fred Warner.
Signing arguably the best linebacker in the NFL to a lucrative contract extension was an easy decision to make, and it wasn’t a surprise to see him become the highest-paid at the position in the league.
However, the Niners did more than that, as they also managed to reduce Warner’s salary cap charge.
“The 49ers lowered Fred Warner’s 2025 salary cap hit by over $13 million with his new contract, which [features] a $16.3M signing bonus and a $21M 2026 option bonus, both prorated against the cap. SF now has $46 million in effective 2025 cap space, #2 in the NFL,” David Lombardi wrote on X.
The 49ers lowered Fred Warner’s 2025 salary-cap hit by over $13 million with his new contract, which ft. a $16.3m signing bonus and a $21m 2026 option bonus — both prorated against the cap.
SF now has $46 million in effective 2025 cap space, #2 in the NFL
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) May 28, 2025
Warner will make a base salary of $1.2 million this season and $1.6 million in 2026.
That number jumps to $15.3 million in 2027, $20.0 million in 2028 and $20.1 million in 2029, and he will get $56.7 million in guaranteed money, which includes $20.3 million in new guarantees.
If age or injuries catch up with Warner, or the 49ers decide to go in a different direction, they can move on from him in 2028 without any sort of financial penalties.
There’s no reason to believe that will be the case, but all things considered, the Niners gave the rest of the league another example of efficient use of the salary cap and how to get around it.
