The 49ers have numerous free agents and not a ton of cap space with which to re-sign them. What San Francisco chooses to do with safety Jimmie Ward could either add to the 49ers' coffers, or further deplete them -- significantly.
Ward is an unrestricted free agent and coming off a career-year in which he totaled 65 tackles, 1.0 sack and eight passes defensed across 13 regular-season games, all starts. He also was a critical part of the team's playoff run, starting all three games and forcing a fumble in the Super Bowl.
He signed a one-year, $5 million contract last offseason, a price that was somewhat depressed due to his injury history.