Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
Pete Prisco published his list of the top 100 NFL players of 2025, an annual tradition for the CBS Sports writer. The San Francisco 49ers are well represented, with five players making the cut. The group is led by All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner, who claimed the No. 19 spot.
However, it wasn’t all good news—three of the five players saw a noticeable drop in rankings compared to last year, largely due to injuries or inconsistent performance during the 2024 season.
Additionally, the 49ers’ presence on the list dropped from last year, when nine players represented the team. Notably absent from this year’s rankings are wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk and quarterback Brock Purdy.
Cornerback Charvarius Ward and wide receiver Deebo Samuel—both featured in last year’s top 100—are no longer with the team for the 2025 season and also failed to make this year’s list.
Below are the 49ers who earned a spot on Prisco’s list, along with his analysis of each.
LB Fred Warner
2025 Ranking: 19
2024 Ranking: 22
Prisco: “Warner is the game’s best run-and-chase linebacker, a key part of the 49ers defense. His ability to cover a lot of ground and play well in pass coverage is vital to the team’s defensive success.”
TE George Kittle
2025 Ranking: 25
2024 Ranking: 37
Prisco: “Kittle remains the best dual-threat tight end in the game. He can catch it and he’s a great blocker. Those types of tight ends are hard to find. He had 78 catches with eight touchdowns last season.”
LT Trent Williams
2025 Ranking: 34
2024 Ranking: 3
Prisco: “Injuries limited him to 10 games last season and he wasn’t the same dominant player when he was on the field. He was still good, just not great. At 37, that has to be a concern.”
DE Nick Bosa
2025 Ranking: 35
2024 Ranking: 10
Prisco: “Bosa had nine sacks in 14 games, but still showed off his ability to win off the edge by totaling a lot of pressures. He didn’t get a lot of help from the rest of the line, which is why they had a major overhaul of that unit this offseason. He’s still just 27 and in the prime of his career.”
RB Christian McCaffrey
2025 Ranking: 41
2024 Ranking: 8
Prisco: “McCaffrey missed the first eight games of the 2024 season with Achilles issues, then had a knee injury that ended his season, limiting him to four games. He’s healthy again, which is the most important thing heading into the 2025 season.”
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