Charvarius Ward Has Signed With the San Francisco 49ers

Ward’s 2021 campaign saw him miss four games due to injury, but he still managed to make 12 starts. The former Middle Tennessee State star also snatched a pair of interceptions and broke up 10 passes.

It was a year of maturation for Ward, as the Chiefs transitioned from a zone-heavy defense. They went to a scheme featuring more single-high safety looks and one-on-one coverage on the outside.

Ward embraced the changes and became a ball hawk capable of making plays like this one against Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys in Week 11:

https://twitter.com/PFF/status/1462555498746679301

Despite the improvement, Ward’s season ended in disappointment when the Chiefs blew a 21-3 lead against the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC title game. Kansas City had gone one game further the season before when they lost, 31-9, to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl LV.

Ward helped the Chiefs return to the Super Bowl by defending six passes and logging his only career sack. It was further proof of how much Ward refined his game following Steve Spagnuolo’s arrival as Chiefs defensive coordinator in 2019.

Spagnuolo’s scheme initially offered more protection for the corners with a variety of zone-coverage shells. While it was a complex system to learn, Ward took to it quickly, starting every game that year and making the first two interceptions of his pro career.

Ward has developed into an opportunistic cornerback since he entered the NFL as a rookie free agent for the Cowboys in 2018. He competed for a roster spot in Dallas, but Ward ended up being traded to the Chiefs in exchange for guard Parker Ehinger.

Ward made the Chiefs final roster and started twice as a rookie. He offered enough glimpses of his talent to be one of the few bright spots for Spagnuolo’s predecessor Bob Sutton.