Brandon Aiyuk (by a wide margin) has generated the most rumors among the 49ers’ contract-year players, but the team has several talented cogs unsigned for 2025. Dre Greenlaw, Talanoa Hufanga and Charvarius Ward are among them.
This raises the stakes for San Francisco in 2024, with a Brock Purdy megadeal on the team’s radar for next year. Hufanga is in the final year of a rookie deal, while Greenlaw and Ward are in walk years after signing short-term deals earlier this decade. Greenlaw has rehab to complete after his historically ill-timed Achilles tear. Also missing the 49ers’ offseason program, Ward is recovering from a core muscle surgery he had put off for years.
Ward, 28, is interested in re-signing with the 49ers; the feeling looks to be mutual. Among the NFC champions’ walk-year players, Aiyuk profiles as the top priority. But Ward is not too far behind, per ESPN.com’s Nick Wagoner. The former Chiefs starter is going into the final season of a three-year, $40.5MM contract. Kyle Shanahan mentioned earlier this offseason Ward was a player the team was interested in keeping.
Originally a Cowboys UDFA traded straight up for guard Parker Ehinger in 2018, Ward became one of the many Steve Spagnuolo-era Chiefs corners whom the team did not pay. Ward joins Marcus Peters in earning All-Pro acclaim (second team) post-Kansas City, having ascended to that level last season. Ward’s 71.8 passer rating allowed as the closest defender ranked 14 among CB regulars, and he added five INTs and an NFL-most 23 pass breakups.
This year’s free agency featured a host of corners seeking third contracts. Kendall Fuller, Chidobe Awuzie, Sean Murphy-Bunting and Adoree’ Jackson headlined that list. Although Awuzie did well and Murphy-Bunting — whose situation differed due to his second contract spanning one year — fared decently on his Cardinals pact, Fuller’s market underwhelmed and Jackson is unsigned. Ward has played on a higher level, but should he hit free agency next year, teams will be assessing his value ahead of an age-29 season. That number matters less with wide receivers, who have regularly secured third-contract windfalls, but it means a bit more for corners.
With Purdy and Aiyuk on the extension radar, the 49ers will probably bid farewell to multiple starting defenders after this season. Hufanga could reestablish his value as a top-tier safety following his ACL rehab, as he was a first-team All-Pro himself in 2022. Greenlaw, who is unlikely to be ready for Week 1, also faces a pivotal platform year due to the injury he sustained. Going into his age-25 season, No. 2 corner Deommodore Lenoir also looms as an interesting piece. A quality year would make him a coveted 2025 free agent, with his age factoring into a 49ers puzzle that will undoubtedly include an internal debate on how much longer Ward’s prime will last.
While Aiyuk is going through extension talks at a position that has seen its market soar, Jaire Alexander‘s $21MM AAV has remained the top CB salary for two years. Patrick Surtain and Sauce Gardner figure to change that, but as of now, corners are falling well behind receivers. Ward will nevertheless make an effort to secure a big-ticket third contract soon.
Ward was undervalued considering how he played for them. To me he is a must signing. Light years better than Lenoir who gets torched 1 on 1 too many times when he’s filled in in downs
It would be more surprising if San Fran DIDN’T want to re-sign Ward. The Ward/Sneed scenario was so critical for Kansas City because they had to replace a player of Ward’s caliber, and somehow managed to do so. In San Fran, Ward’s been one of the best corners in the league, and really helps the front play freely without worrying about coverage on his side. He didn’t sign a big money deal to come to the 9ers, but he might want to push the market some now, which would be difficult for the team. Ward’s definitely their best corner, and would be hard to replace immediately.