The signing means that 10 of the 49ers' 11 defensive starters will be back in 2020. The one exception is defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, who was traded to the Indianapolis Colts on Monday. The move freed enough money to make other signings, like the Ward deal, possible.
Ward recorded 65 combined tackles, a sack, and eight passes defensed through 13 regular-season starts in 2019. His Pro Football Focus grade of 84.9 this past season was the best of his career and the sixth-highest among safeties.
Below is the year-by-year breakdown of the contract, courtesy of OverTheCap.com. The cap hit in 2020 is much less than the final two years of the deal, when the NFL's salary cap is expected to rise significantly.
2020:
$1.5 million base salary (all guaranteed)
$3.167 million in bonuses (prorated, roster)
$4.573 million salary-cap hit
2021:
$8.4 million base salary
$3.5 million guaranteed
$3.267 million in bonuses (prorated, roster, workout)
$11.667 million salary-cap hit
2022:
$8.9 million base salary (none guaranteed)
$3.267 million in bonuses (prorated, roster, workout)
$12.167 million salary-cap hit
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