The San Francisco 49ers went into the offseason with the mission of finding themselves a cornerback, according to head coach Kyle Shanahan, and got one in 25-year old Charvarius Ward, formerly of the Kansas City Chiefs.
When asked about the signing at the NFL's annual league meeting, Shanahan raved about Ward's ability in man-coverage, as well as his demeanor, which adds an electric presence to the locker room.
"I just liked how he played bump coverage the most," Shanahan shared. "I mean, they put him on an island a lot. He's got extreme[ly] long arms. He never panics. He's got very quick feet. He stays on top of guys. They put him in some positions that a lot of guys would just back up and play a little timid, and I never saw him change. I liked his style, and getting to meet the guy, I feel real happy that he's a 49er."
Ward was excellent in man coverage last season, allowing a 40% completion rate, 46.6% expected completion rate, and 46.7% tight-window rate, all of which ranked first in the NFL.
#49ers' new cornerback Charvarius Ward's advanced stats from the 2021 season: pic.twitter.com/K7kqvPDE3B
— Akash Anavarathan (@akashanav) March 15, 2022
Additionally, Ward was a stout tackler—a primary discipline for 49ers' cornerbacks—missing just 4.3% of his tackles last season.
While the reported terms of Ward's contract were a three-year, $40 million deal, here is the full breakdown of the newly-signed 49er's contract.
- Rohan Chakravarthi
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Written by:Writer/Reporter for 49ers Webzone
