Jimmie Ward GTD

49ers consider moving Jimmie Ward to safety

The San Francisco 49ers "are contemplating" shifting cornerback Jimmie Ward to a safety role, the Sacramento Bee's Matt Barrows reports.

What It Means:

The 49ers are switching to a 4-3 scheme which will attempt to emulate the Seahawks' defense. If they move Ward to safety -- the position he was projected to play coming out of college -- he would likely be asked to play a free safety role similar to Earl Thomas's in Seattle. Ward has been the 49ers' most consistent corner the last couple seasons, however, and they already have former first-rounder Eric Reid at free safety.

The 49ers were fifth-worst in schedule-adjusted Defensive Net Expected Points per play this past season.