5 49ers players now in line for extensions after Deebo Samuel got paid

No. 2: 49ers safety Jimmie Ward

Another more complex re-sign/extend case is that of veteran safety Jimmie Ward.

Ward, who has never known another uniform ever since the Niners drafted him in Round 1 way back in 2014, has since become a mainstay of San Francisco’s defense. And while he might not get the interception numbers and nationwide accolades other top defensive backs have received in that timeframe, there’s no doubting Ward’s importance in recent seasons.

It sounds like a no-brainer move to extend Ward, who’ll earn nearly $13 million this season yet has three void years remaining on his contract that’ll cost the 49ers a net of $6.4 million.

Having just turned 31 years old, Ward’s playmaking abilities will begin to decline sooner than later, but we haven’t seen any signs of that being imminent just yet. And while an extension of, let’s say, three years would increase the risk of the veteran being more of a liability than a commanding presence, the immediate return in what should be a Super Bowl window for the Niners is probably worth it.

Perhaps Ward would be OK with this, taking the hometown discount and sticking around on a new extension that would pay him an annual average of $10 million per season.

Considering what those other top-paid safeties are getting around the league, that’d still be a bargain.