Rookie linebacker Fred Warner signed a four-year contract with the 49ers Wednesday morning and soon after received praise from coach Kyle Shanahan.
The third-round pick has seen time with the first-team defense at “Mike” linebacker during OTA practices and this week’s mandatory minicamp, while veteran Malcolm Smith recovers from a groin injury.
“He’s very smart, he doesn’t make the same mistake twice and he’s a guy I’m excited to see once we get the pads on,” Shanahan said before Wednesday’s practice.
Warner, who played a hybrid linebacker-safety position at BYU, said covering tight ends and slot receivers in college has helped him adjust to the speed of his 49ers teammates in practice.