According to Caplan, the 49ers are trying to re-sign Ward, who is scheduled to hit free agency on Wednesday. Ward's representatives have been free to speak with other teams since 9 a.m. PT on Monday. Caplan told 95.7 The Game that San Francisco is "working on" keeping the safety.
The 49ers entered the week with nearly $13 million in salary-cap space. That was before the re-signing of Armstead. NFL teams need to get below the $198.2 million salary cap by the start of the new league year on Wednesday.
We don't yet know the details of Armstead's contract, which perhaps pushes much of his salary toward future years. The team also has time to free up some money in other ways. That could mean trading, releasing, or restructuring the contracts of players.
The 49ers are reportedly shopping wide receiver Marquise Goodwin. Running back Jerick McKinnon is also on the books for a significant amount.
The 49ers made Ward the No. 30 overall selection in 2014 after playing college football at Northern Illinois. He registered 65 combined tackles, a sack, and eight passes defensed through 13 regular-season starts with the 49ers in 2019.
Ward, 28, has just twice — including 2019 — finished an NFL season without landing on injured reserve.
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers' Kyle Shanahan explains Brock Purdy's remarkable success in Seattle
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy earned his first career road start in 2022 with a 21-13 win over the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field. Since then, he has played three additional games in one of the loudest and most challenging environments in the NFL — and won all... -
How Eric Kendricks became an instant force multiplier for the 49ers defense
When a veteran signs with an NFL team late in the season, it's often as a break-glass-in-case-of-emergency option—a short-term fix after injuries pile up. That may have been the initial expectation when the San Francisco 49ers signed linebacker Eric Kendricks in November.... -
49ers vs. Seahawks: Keys to Victory and a Trip to the NFC Championship Game
What's going on, Faithful? It's your boy Wayne Breezie, and we're right back at it with everything on the line. The San Francisco 49ers are headed into hostile territory to take on the Seattle Seahawks, the 2025 NFC West champions, with a trip to the NFC Championship Game on... -
Kyle Shanahan turns Seahawks trash talk into motivation for 49ers playoff push
A trip to the NFC Championship Game should be motivation enough for the San Francisco 49ers as they prepare for Saturday night's Divisional Round playoff matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. But just in case, head coach Kyle Shanahan made sure his team had a little extra fuel...