The San Francisco 49ers made their first free agency move, agreeing to sign Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Charvarius Ward to a three-year deal worth up to $42 million, including $26.7 million guaranteed. ESPN's Adam Schefter was the first to report the news.
That's a potentially massive deal for the soon-to-be-fifth-year player, but as always, we will have to wait to see the contract structure before judging the value.
Former Chiefs' CB Charvarious Ward intends to sign a three-year deal worth up to $42 million including $26.7 million guaranteed with the San Francisco 49ers, his agency @UniSportsMgmt told ESPN.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 15, 2022
Most expected San Francisco to be in the market for a veteran cornerback, and Ward was among the top free-agent defensive backs available. He will likely line up opposite Emmanuel Moseley on the outside. The team also has Ambry Thomas, who came on strong at the end of his 2021 rookie campaign.
A guess as far as the 49ers' plan at CB for '22: Charvarius Ward and Emmanuel Moseley are the starters at outside cornerback. On nickel downs, Ambry Thomas enters on the outside and Moseley slides inside. (The 49ers did this with Carlos Rogers and Chris Culliver in 2011).
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) March 15, 2022
The Dallas Cowboys signed Ward (6-1, 198) as an undrafted free agent out of Middle Tennessee in 2018. He registered 67 tackles, two tackles for a loss, 10 passes defensed, and two interceptions through 13 game appearances (12 starts) with the Chiefs in 2021, per Pro Football Reference. The cornerback's 71.2 overall Pro Football Focus grade and 69.4 coverage grade from this past season were career-highs. Opposing quarterbacks owned a passer rating of 73.6 when targeting Ward in 2021.
"According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Ward allowed the lowest average separation on targets (2 yards) and second-lowest completion % among DBs (45%), among DBs with min. 50 targets in '21," ESPN's Nick Wagoner tweeted.
Ward, 25, has recorded 222 tackles, a sack, 29 passes defensed, four interceptions, and a forced fumble in 56 game appearances (43 starts) through his four NFL seasons.
While the details of the contract are not yet known, the 49ers will likely need to make salary-cap room for Ward. The team entered the week $9.6 million over the cap limit of $208.2 million and must be at or below that mark by Wednesday at 1 p.m. PT.