Niner Noise
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San Francisco 49ers: Ranking the top 25 players for 2018

By Chris Wilson

SANTA CLARA, CA - NOVEMBER 20: DeForest Buckner #99 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after he sacked Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots at Levi's Stadium on November 20, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - NOVEMBER 20: DeForest Buckner #99 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after he sacked Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots at Levi's Stadium on November 20, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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San Francisco 49ers Jimmie Ward
SANTA CLARA, CA – NOVEMBER 6: Fullback John Kuhn #29 of the New Orleans Saints runs against defensive back Jimmie Ward #25 of the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth quarter on November, 6 2016 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The Saints won 41-23. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /

24. DB Jimmie Ward

After losing a significant portion of the 2017 season due to injury, defensive back Jimmie Ward also lost his starting job to seventh-round free safety Adrian Colbert. In the upcoming final year of his contract with the 49ers, Ward’s position on the team is in a state of flux.

However, provided he stays healthy, Ward should play a significant role in 2018, even if the defender begins the season without a starting job. Ward is a rare versatile talent with the ability to play every position in the 49ers’ secondary.

Depending on the lead-up to Week 1, Ward could potentially begin the season as a starting cornerback or safety — or he could be relegated to the first defensive back off the bench. But given the violent nature of the league and questions surrounding the health of some members of the secondary, a healthy Ward is nearly assured to play a prominent role for the 49ers’ defense in 2018.