We already know that safety Jimmie Ward turned down a better offer from another NFL team to rejoin the San Francisco 49ers. Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reported last month that the Las Vegas Raiders were among the teams interested in the versatile safety, but didn't explicitly state that was the team that made the competing offer.
Ward reportedly turned down an offer of $10 million a year from another NFL team and accepted a three-year deal worth $9.5 million annually with the 49ers.
Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL confirmed on Friday that the Raiders were indeed the team that offered Ward a competing contract. The former Bay Area squad has instead signed Damarious Randall, another versatile safety, to a one-year deal after already signing Jeff Heath on March 27.
They made a strong offer to Jimmie Ward (re-signed with #49ers), also signed Jeff Heath (2 years, $6m). https://t.co/nraewhdnrK
— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) April 3, 2020
"Jimmie has proven to possess many of the characteristics we are looking for in a 49er, and we are excited to keep him in red and gold," general manager John Lynch said via a statement following San Francisco's official announcement of the Ward signing. "His no-nonsense passion for the game amplifies his special physical abilities, while also setting a tone for our defense."