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

What 49ers expect out of Charvarius Ward this season

San Francisco’s 2022 NFL free agency deal for Charvarius Ward wasn’t cheap, coming in at three years and up to $40.5 million, according to Spotrac.com.

However, given the 49ers’ previous post-Richard Sherman problems at cornerback, it’s money well spent. And last year was a perfect example of just how big an issue the Niners were having at the position.

Losing then-No. 1 corner Jason Verrett to a season-ending ACL tear in Week 1 hurt, both literally and figuratively. Trying to get anything of fellow corner Josh Norman last year didn’t pan out with desired results, and he was benched towards the end of the year, while then-rookie cornerback Ambry Thomas impressed enough late in the season but was completely overwhelmed in the playoffs.

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Remember the quick addition and subtraction of veteran corner Dre Kirkpatrick? It’s OK if you forgot.

About the only reliable corner on the boundary San Francisco had in play was Emmanuel Moseley.

As Kyle Posey also noted, the 49ers don’t need Ward to come in and play at an All-Pro level. Considering the Niners defense ranked ninth best in scoring and third best in yards allowed last year despite its cornerbacking issues, all Ward needs to do is be better than Norman and Thomas were.

Anything better will be a massive bonus, and that’s what San Francisco is banking on in 2022.