49ers roster: Jimmie Ward is more vital than ever entering 2022

The 49ers have always asked a lot out of Jimmie Ward, but his presence will be exceptionally more crucial to the defense heading into 2022.

Thankfully, San Francisco 49ers have long forgotten the early years of defensive back Jimmie Ward‘s pro career in which some wondered whether or not the 2014 first-round NFL Draft pick out of Northern Illinois was going to cut it as a member of the Niners’ secondary.

Despite some early struggles, Ward has largely answered those questions in spades. And he’s mostly put an unfortunate injury reputation behind him, too, enjoying three consecutive years in which he’s generally avoided being absent from the field with setbacks.

As far as underrated safeties go, the 31-year-old Ward is undoubtedly up there. He might not record the interception totals that put him into the elite category of the final line of defense. Yet, anyone who has watched San Francisco games in recent years can attest to his importance.

That importance will be even more apparent entering 2022.

Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com
Generated 7/27/2022.

The 49ers elected to move on from Ward’s long-time safety companion, Jaquiski Tartt, during the offseason. With Tartt now a member of the Philadelphia Eagles, Ward now stands even taller as one of the Niners’ longest-tenured players, and he’ll also be responsible for headlining a cast of defensive backs primarily composed of young players.

If that’s not important, what is?

Let’s take a deeper look at what’s on tap for the veteran entering this season and why his role is so crucial.

Why Jimmie Ward continues to play at high level with 49ers

At this point in his career, it’s hard to say Ward will actually improve.

This isn’t a knock against him. If anything, it’s a compliment. Perhaps not recognized as a Pro Bowler because of the whole underrated thing, Ward is nevertheless a constant and has been within a defensive backfield that has undergone plenty of changes in only the last two years.

A year ago, Ward finally put an end to his lengthy interception-less streak, picking off Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford twice in that turnaround game halfway through 2021.

Yet the picks only tell a small story, as Ward actually enjoyed a career-best 92.5 passer rating allowed on just 44 targets.

Combined with missing zero tackles, one could make the argument Ward’s 2021 campaign was his best ever. If he keeps that up, the Niners’ secondary should be in good shape.

Why Jimmie Ward might actually regress this season

There are a few factors working against Ward heading into the new year.

For starters, turning 31 years old means the clock is ticking on a still-effective career. And the last anyone checked, Father Time remains undefeated.

By in large, though, it’s not a massive concern just yet. Yet some of those changes within the secondary could prompt some challenges for Ward, namely losing Tartt and the Niners having to turn to a younger replacement, perhaps someone like fellow defensive back Talanoa Hufanga, who played sparingly on defense a year ago his rookie season and wasn’t quite the most promising defender on the field when he was there.

Read More: Is strong safety going to be a problem for San Francisco?

Hufanga might make a major leap in year two, assuming he gets the starting strong safety job. Even then, Ward might be asked with helping cover up Hufanga’s mistakes, and that could impact his ability to perform such a key role well.

Breaking down Jimmie Ward’s importance to 49ers in 2022

Nicknamed “The Eraser,” Ward should have some motivation to continue playing at that high level as he’s entering a contract year, his 2022 cap number at just below $13 million before being pegged for NFL free agency next offseason.

Whether or not San Francisco wants to retain him beyond that is anyone’s guess, but it’s safe to say Ward is auditioning for that next contract anyway.

If one were to go back and watch Ward’s film over the course of recent seasons, it’s not hard to see just how much of the “little stuff” he does well. Be it providing over-the-top help against an opposing top receiver, thereby forcing a quarterback to look elsewhere, converging on a missed tackle at the second level, zoning off an area of the field or even delivering a key hit, Ward does a lot of the things that don’t always show up on the stat sheet.

With Hufanga seemingly in the lead to start opposite him, Ward’s responsibilities should actually increase a lot.

And how well the 49ers’ secondary performs this season might be in direct correlation to Ward’s own presence and impact.