49ers roster: Charvarius Ward can be everything Niners need him to be

Why Charvarius Ward thrives with 49ers in 2022

Charvarius Ward’s interception totals might not jump off the table as much as one of the other potential NFL free agency targets San Francisco could have considered, now-Los Angeles Chargers cornerback J.C. Jackson.

Part of this, though, is due to the fact Jackson was targeted so much more last season, 108 times in contrast to Ward’s 76. Based on that alone, opposing quarterbacks likely didn’t want to test Ward too much.

This breakdown from Niners Nation’s Kyle Posey helps explain what made Ward so great with the Chiefs a year ago, specifically the cornerback’s ability to be placed on an island:

"Ward finished with a 63% success rate and allowed 6.0 yards per pass, both good enough for 10th in the NFL. By definition, those are CB1 numbers. What makes Ward’s ’21 season so impressive — and likely the reason San Francisco invested in him — is that he followed the other teams’ top target, often with little to no help."

Kansas City’s defense regressed a bit last season, and it particularly struggled in the first half of the year. Going from the Chiefs to the 49ers should actually allow Ward to play behind a much more potent pass rush and more formidable linebackers, who also have the ability to perform coverage duties.

Simply put, the supporting cast might be better. And if Ward is equal to what he was last season, that’s a massive bonus.