The 49ers’ biggest offseason free-agent signing was to lure in Charvarius Ward, and the veteran cornerback solves a massive issue entering 2022.
For the first time since a fully healthy Richard Sherman graced the field back in 2019, the San Francisco 49ers finally have a true No. 1 cornerback.
Much of the Niners’ offseason NFL free agency moves revolved around special teams, yet the big splash was to bring aboard former Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Charvarius Ward on a lucrative deal to help solve what had been a long issue for San Francisco ever since Sherman’s health declined in 2020.
After four years in KC, three of them starting, the 26-year-old former undrafted free agent out of Middle Tennessee State is now tasked with securing the top boundary role in coordinator DeMeco Ryans’ defense.
A tall order. But it’s one that fans should be excited about watching.
| Game | Game | Def | Def | Def | Def | Def | Fumb | Tack | Tack | Tack | Tack | Tack | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Age | Tm | Pos | G | GS | Int | Yds | TD | Lng | PD | FF | Sk | Comb | Solo | Ast | TFL | QBHits |
| 2018 | 22 | KAN | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.0 | 30 | 26 | 4 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2019 | 23 | KAN | RCB | 16 | 16 | 2 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 10 | 1 | 0.0 | 74 | 56 | 18 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | 24 | KAN | LCB | 14 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1.0 | 51 | 38 | 13 | 1 | 3 | |
| 2021 | 25 | KAN | CB | 13 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0.0 | 67 | 48 | 19 | 2 | 0 | |
| Career | Career | 56 | 43 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 29 | 1 | 1.0 | 222 | 168 | 54 | 3 | 3 |
Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com
Generated 7/25/2022.
Ryans has somewhat shifted the 49ers defense from a predominantly zone-coverage scheme into one that employs some man-coverage packages, and that’s Ward’s game.
Understanding that will go a long way towards recognizing just how big an impact this high-profile free agent will make for the Niners, both this upcoming season and beyond.
Let’s break down what fans should expect out of Ward heading into 2022.
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.
Why Charvarius Ward actually regresses with 49ers
Considering some of the struggles the Niners have had at cornerback in recent years, it’s hard to see how Charvarius Ward would be any worse of an option.
That’s definitely a good thing, though, but it’s still fair to wonder if last year’s success will automatically replicate itself over into 2022.
Ward allowed 39 completions on those 76 targets for 511 yards and four touchdowns a year ago, opposing quarterbacks posting a 79.4 passer rating when targeting him. Those are near-elite numbers, and had he picked off a few more passes in the process, it’s likely he would have been in consideration for a Pro Bowl nod.
Read More: 49ers fans will appreciate this fact about Charvarius Ward
There are some points where one can fairly wonder if Ward sees some slight regression in the NFC West. Granted, the AFC West wasn’t exactly a pushover division before this offseason’s stockpiling, but Ward was bullied a bit by bigger wide receivers, particularly the Cincinnati Bengals’ Ja’Marr Chase in Week 17.
The 6-foot-1, 196-pound defensive back could theoretically have some issues matching up against the NFC West’s elites, such as the Los Angeles Rams’ Allen Robinson, the Arizona Cardinals’ DeAndre Hopkins or the Seattle Seahawks’ D.K. Metcalf.
Again, though, those receivers will probably make quick work out of most cornerbacks anyway.
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.