Ben Linsey of Pro Football Focus ranked the top 25 NFL safeties heading into the 2020 season, and on it is a name familiar to San Francisco 49ers fans. Safety Jimmie Ward came in at No. 22.
"Ward has had an interesting career, to say the least," wrote Linsey. "Four of his six NFL seasons have been cut short by injury, and he had been a cornerback in the only other seasons in which he played 500-plus snaps prior to last year (2015 and 2016). Last year, however, Ward was excellent as the 49ers' starting free safety."
The 49ers selected Ward out of Northern Illinois with the No. 30 overall pick in 2014. He racked up a career-high 65 tackles, a sack, and eight passes defensed last season.
San Francisco re-signed Ward to a three-year, $28.5 million deal in March.
"The 49ers allowed just 10 completions on passes 20 or more yards downfield during the 2019 regular season — the fewest in the NFL by six — and Ward gets a lot of the credit for that with his 84.9 overall grade on the season," added Linsey.
Ward has registered 251 tackles, three sacks, two interceptions, 29 passes defended, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries over his NFL career.