Charvarius Ward will be a free agent this offseason. He has also made it clear that he does not want to return to the San Francisco 49ers. Due to this, let’s take a deeper dive into which teams could pursue Ward.
Potential Charvarius Ward Landing Spots
If Charvarius Ward moves on from the San Francisco 49ers, several contending teams with secondary needs should be lining up to sign him. Among them, the Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions, and Minnesota Vikings stand out as the best fits. Each team is in win now mode and could use a boost to their secondary.
Buffalo Bills
Despite consistently losing in heartbreaking fashion, the Bills‘ Super Bowl window is still wide open. However, their secondary is consistently a question mark in the playoffs. Buffalo’s defensive backfield consistently deals with injuries and departures. The starting trio of Christian Benford, Taron Johnson, and Rasul Douglas was sold this season however, only combined for four interceptions on the year.
Charvarius Ward would be a good fit for Buffalo’s defense, giving them a physical corner who can match up against top receivers in the AFC. With the Bills constantly competing against elite quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, and Lamar Jackson, having a true number one corner is crucial. While Benford, Johnson, and Douglas are all solid players, none are true number ones.
The Bills are still in championship contention, but their secondary could use a boost if they want to get over the hump. Ward could be the piece that solidifies their defense in a highly competitive AFC.
Detroit Lions
The Lions have built one of the most exciting young teams in the league. Yet, their defense and specifically secondary remains their biggest weakness. Detroit ranked near the bottom of the league in pass defense in 2024, and their struggles were exposed in this year. In the playoffs, quarterback Jayden Daniels picked apart the Lions secondary. While their offense is capable of putting up points against anyone, their defense must improve if they want to take the next step and reach the Super Bowl.
Charvarius Ward would immediately become the best cornerback on the roster, giving Detroit a much better presence on the outside. His physical style fits perfectly with the mentality that head coach Dan Campbell has instilled in this team. Pairing Ward with safety Brian Branch and an improved pass rush would make Detroit a much tougher team to throw against.
The Lions are legitimate Super Bowl contenders, but they must address their defensive backfield. Adding a high-level player like Ward could be the final piece that gets them over the top.
Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings overhauled their defense in 2024 under Brian Flores, and while they made significant improvements, their secondary still needs work. Minnesota’s young cornerback group showed flashes of potential, but they lack a true number one shutdown option. Minnesota also has some free agency questions in the secondary.
Charvarius Ward would be an ideal fit in Flores’ defensive style. His ability to play man coverage would allow the Vikings to be even more aggressive with their front seven. With Minnesota likely looking to improve their roster, adding a proven corner like Ward would help them stay competitive in a tough NFC.
Main Image: Kelley L Cox – USA Today Sports
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