Ward, who prefers the nickname Mooney, owned the third-best pass coverage grade (86.5) among cornerbacks last season, behind the Bears' Jaylon Johnson (91.0) and Gardner (90.8), even though he was targeted on more than 100 pass plays. Ward had passes thrown his way more than twice as often as Johnson and Gardner.
PFF's coverage grades, primarily influenced by plays where the defender was targeted, took into account the ability to prevent separation and the difficulty in assignment.
Ward led the NFL in pass breakups with 19 en route to his first-ever Pro Bowl selection.
Mooney allowed a 63.7 NFL passer rating, better than former Chiefs cornerback L'Jarius Sneed, Browns standout Denzel Ward, and Gardner, who has twice been selected to the NFL All-Pro team.
The Jets, who visit Levi's Stadium on September 9 for the Monday night season opener, had three of their cornerbacks make PFF's top-15 cornerbacks: Gardner, Michael Carter II, and D.J. Reed, who was drafted in 2018 by the 49ers.
Pro Football Focus' 2024 top-ten-ranked cornerbacks are:
- Sauce Gardner, New York Jets
- Trent McDuffie, Kansas City Chiefs
- Charvarius Ward, San Francisco 49ers
- Pat Surtain II, Denver Broncos
- Jaylon Johnson, Chicago Bears
- Jalen Ramsey, Miami Dolphins
- Jaire Alexander, Green Bay Packers
- Kendall Fuller, Miami Dolphins
- Michael Carter II, New York Jets
- Taron Johnson, Buffalo Bills
Mooney Ward's NFL journey began when he was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Dallas Cowboys in 2018. He was then traded to Kansas City before the season began, where he won a Super Bowl ring in 2019. Currently, he is in the third and final year of a contract he signed with San Francisco in 2022.
Ward said he left Kansas City because they didn't have enough money to compensate him. Now, we will see if the Niners have enough money to re-up Mooney.
Written By:
Reporter. Immersed in 49ers football from Kezar to Candlestick to Levi's Stadium.
All articles by Jon Opelt
Jon Opelt
Reporter. Immersed in 49ers football from Kezar to Candlestick to Levi's Stadium.
All articles by Jon Opelt
Related News
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers vs. Browns PFF grades: Best and worst from the game, plus snap counts
The San Francisco 49ers improved their record to 9-4 after a 26-8 win against the Cleveland Browns in Week 13. Today, Pro Football Focus released its grades and snap counts from the game. Which Niners stood out, and who needs more work? Highest-graded 49ers: Offense George... -
NFL reveals 49ers' nominee for Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award
The NFL has revealed its 32 nominees for the prestigious Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, which honors players for their excellence on and off the field. Representing the San Francisco 49ers for the second consecutive year is linebacker Curtis Robinson. The 49ers... -
49ers overlook size concerns, add skilled receiver in The Athletic's 2026 NFL mock draft
The San Francisco 49ers could be in the market for a first-round wide receiver when the 2026 NFL Draft arrives. Brandon Aiyuk's future remains uncertain, and many around the league believe the veteran wideout has likely played his final snap for the 49ers—even after signing a... -
NFL insider links 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk to Commanders
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk may be nearing the end of his tenure in the Bay Area. That became a growing assumption after news broke of the team voiding his 2026 guaranteed salary—a move that still hasn't been fully explained. However, ESPN reported that...