NFL Network continues its countdown of the Top 100 players of 2022, revealing Nos. 21-50 on Sunday. Two San Francisco 49ers players had already landed on the list. Fullback Kyle Juszczyk came in at No. 100, while safety Jimmie Ward made his debut on the annual list, landing at No. 96.
The NFL Top 100 Players list is respected by players because it is voted on by their peers. The voting is based on performance during the previous year and predicted performance during the upcoming season. The list is in its 12th season on NFL Network.
On Sunday, it was revealed that Fred Warner came in at No. 47. However, this year's placement is a drastic drop from last year, when he came in at No. 21.
One of the best MLBs out there 💪@49ers LB @fred_warner makes his 3rd-straight #NFLTop100 at 47! pic.twitter.com/4IY3XCiEVu
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) August 21, 2022
"Warner's 26-spot drop from last year's Top 100 list doesn't necessarily indicate it was a down year for the 49ers LB in 2021," wrote Coral Smith of NFL.com. "Warner signed a record-breaking five-year, $95 million extension with the 49ers ahead of the season and proved he's worth the money with 137 total tackles and seven tackles for loss, which is more than he collected in 2020 in both categories."
Warner's 2020 campaign earned him his first Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors. He earned no league honors in 2021 despite recording a career-high and team-leading 137 tackles.
"While he may not have gotten the accolades of the previous year," Smith continued, "Warner proved he can keep up the production from that season, and with that monster extension, he will have the chance to continue as a star on the 49ers defense for the foreseeable future."
Warner is entering his fifth NFL season. The 49ers made him a third-round draft pick in 2018. In addition to his 137 tackles and seven tackles for a loss, Warner recorded three quarterback hits, four passes defensed, one forced fumble, and 0.5 sacks last season, per Pro Football Reference.
Defensive end Nick Bosa landed at No. 25 on the list. He did not appear in last year's ranking as he was coming off an injury-shortened season. However, his ranking this year is an eight-spot drop from where he landed in 2020—at No. 17.
Another Bosa in the top 30 on the countdown 👀@49ers DE @nbsmallerbear makes his 2nd appearance on the #NFLTop100 at spot 25! pic.twitter.com/OTw1IW51Mi
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) August 22, 2022
"Bosa started his career by winning AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2019, but couldn't follow up that with a strong sophomore campaign because of a torn ACL suffered in Week 2 of the 2020 season," wrote Smith. "But third time's the charm, because in Bosa's third year, he came back strong and exceeded his production from his first season. Starting all 20 games during San Francisco's run to the NFC title game, Bosa broke his career-high in sacks with 15.5 (fourth in the league) -- adding four more in the playoffs -- and tied AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Watt for the most tackles for loss in the NFL (21). With Bosa only three years into his career, it'll be interesting to see how high he can climb up the Top 100 in the coming seasons."
San Francisco drafted Bosa (6-4, 266) out of Ohio State with the No. 2 overall pick in 2019. He registered 52 tackles, 21 tackles for a loss, 32 quarterback hits, 15.5 sacks, a pass defensed, and four forced fumbles through 17 starts with the 49ers last season.
The defender's Pro Football Focus pass-rush grade of 90.0 in 2021 was a career-high. Bosa, 24, has recorded 105 tackles, 24.5 sacks, three passes defensed, an interception, and six forced fumbles in 35 game appearances and 33 starts through his three NFL seasons, including his two-game 2020 campaign.
In addition to being named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2019, Bosa has been selected to two Pro Bowl rosters (2019, 2021). His ranking in this year's list is five spots higher than his older brother, Joey Bosa of the Los Angeles Chargers.
Tight end George Kittle came in at No. 22 within the ranking. That's a 28-spot jump from his 2021 ranking of No. 50 but a 15-spot drop from the No. 7 spot he held in 2020.
Four straight years on the #NFLTop100 for this do-it-all TE 💪@49ers TE @gkittle46 lands at 22 on the countdown! pic.twitter.com/BbME8bD74r
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) August 22, 2022
"For five years, Kittle has been a consistent leadership presence in the 49ers' locker room and continues to put out quality seasons on the field, as well," wrote Smith. "Kittle was the third-best player at his position in 2021, according to Pro Football Focus, and in addition to his usual dominance as a blocking tight end, Kittle also recorded the fourth-most receiving yards by a tight end in 2021 with 910. That all-around talent and leadership is definitely worth his No. 22 ranking and fourth consecutive appearance on this list."
Kittle is entering his sixth NFL season. He recorded 71 receptions for 910 yards and a career-high six touchdowns in 2021, bringing his career total to 335 receptions for 4,489 yards and 20 trips into the end zone over five NFL seasons.
Kittle is a first-team All-Pro (2019) and three-time Pro Bowl selection (2018-19, 2021).
The remainder of the NFL Top 100 players of 2022 will be revealed on Sunday, August 28.
