“Every tackle is a message. I demand respect.” Right out of the gate, the NFL’s gridiron drama has us buzzing like a soda pop on a hot day, and Fred Warner is center stage. This San Francisco 49ers linebacker, who hails from San Marcos, CA, has experienced epic NFL stories before. Warner delivered 76 solo tackles and 1 sack, along with 4 forced fumbles and 2 interceptions during the 2024 season. He remained the central figure in the underperforming 49ers team with a 6-11 record.

Now Warner, who cut his teeth at BYU before being snatched up in the third round of the 2018 draft, has not only earned multiple Pro Bowl nods. Indeed, he also signed a five-year, $95M contract extension back in 2021. Fast forward to February 2025, and he’s all fired up about the 49ers’ defense under the return of DC Robert Saleh. Looks like Myles Garrett asking for a trade…

49ers take the stage

“Hey Myles, what’s up, we were just chopping it up at the Pro Bowl!” he joked on the Nightcap show. Thereby, breaking the ice and hinting at big, bold moves that could reshape NFL power dynamics. Now, here’s where the plot thickens. Enter George Kittle, the 49ers’ superstar tight end with a net worth hovering around $20M thanks to his massive contract extension.

And as the rumor mill churns faster than a ‘Friends’ rerun, Fred Warner’s been throwing down some epic banter. “Because I’m like, rightfully so, it’s Myles Garrett,” he quips on the U and Adams Show, setting the stage for a trade scenario that sounds more like a script for a late-night comedy skit than a typical NFL maneuver.

It’s a line that oozes confidence, backed by the idea that there’s always room for a guy of Garrett’s caliber—a veritable hall-of-famer in the making. With Kittle’s estimated net worth at around $20M and his hefty 5-year, $75M deal (complete with an $18M signing bonus and $40M in guarantees), the team’s cash flow is as much a topic as on-field performance. “Seems like he’d be using a lot of percent profit.”

Warner adds with that signature 49ers flair, blending humor with the hard facts of football business. And here’s where it gets even more interesting: “Not just a hall of fame or one of the best to ever do it, and just a super soldier. You see him walking around here. He looks a lot different than a lot of the other cats that are walking around here. So, I don’t know how that would even come about, how we would get that done, but I know there’s some way somehow we can figure that out. Yeah,” said Warner.

Now, if you’re thinking this sounds like a scene from ‘The Office,’ you’re not too far off—imagine Michael Scott dropping truth bombs mid-meeting. The suggestion? Warner said, “Like, Me and George can just give a little of our funds over to Myles Garrett. How about that?” It’s a playful yet pointed jab at the NFL’s ruthless salary cap realities, where even superstars like Kittle might have to tighten their belts.

Warner doesn’t stop there. Rolling on with, he added, “I’m including George in the account.” This, he implies, isn’t just about money. It’s about assembling a championship-winning team. When asked, “You’re gonna give a paycheck to…?” He said in a second, “…Myles Garrett!” He continues, punctuating the idea that if the 49ers can swing this trade, they might just bring home that elusive Lombardi Trophy. “And in return, we get Super Bowl,” he concluded. Hence, echoing a sentiment that any NFL fan would drool over on a slow Sunday afternoon.

Garrett’s Barrett

“There’s always room for a Myles Garrett… Because he is a hall-of-fame player.” These words by Warner float in the locker room, sparking whispers of creative financing. As Garrett would say, “I feel I’m athletically superior to most of the guys I go against”. In the 2024 season, the Cleveland Browns’ DE played 17 games, racking up 47 total tackles (40 solo and 7 assists), 14 sacks, and 22 tackles for loss. Yeah, you read that right, 14 sacks for the fourth straight year. On top of that, he forced 3 fumbles, snagged 1 recovery, and even added 1 pass defended to his stat sheet. It’s no wonder this beast from Arlington, TX, has been turning heads ever since he was the No. 1 overall pick in 2017. Crazy right?

Now, let’s talk cheddar. As of early 2025, experts estimate this NFL dynamo’s worth at around $12 million. In fact, that’s a figure that might surprise those who believe money speaks louder than performance. Indeed, back in 2020, he inked a five-year, $125 million extension with the Browns. A deal featuring a sweet $21M signing bonus and $100M in guarantees that Kittle and Warner would gladly now compensate. In Warner’s words, “Me and George can just give a little bit of our funds over to Miles Garrett.”

How about that?”

Although for the 2024 season, his base salary was a cool $1.21M with a cap hit of about $20.17M and a 7.9% cap percentage. And peaking into 2025, he’s set to bump his base salary to $1.255M. And with bonus numbers that’d make any accountant’s head spin. It’s like watching Tony Stark upgrade his suit. Only, instead of repulsers, we’ve got sacks and tackles flying by. Garrett’s on-field resume is as impressive as any Marvel superhero’s origin story. Now ready to be free of his ensemble. Will the 49ers impress with more green?

Indeed, he’s not just a stats machine. He’s a consistent force, breaking records and turning game plans into his highlight reel. Perhaps, after setting an SEC freshman sack record of 11.5 at Texas A&M (2014–2016), his NFL career has only skyrocketed. Moreover, had 352 total tackles, 102.5 sacks, 20 forced fumbles, 6 recoveries, 17 pass deflections, and even a defensive touchdown.

His accolades include six Pro Bowl nods and four first-team All-Pro honors. Hence solidifying his status as one of the league’s premier defensive players. Now as the Browns look to shake things up, Garrett’s trade request—with Warner’s stating his desire to win a Super Bowl (& Garret’s heart)—this season might have been rough, but it’s priming everyone for a comeback that’s as bold as that classic Game of Thrones line: “When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die.” Now, isn’t that a story worth watching?