Report: 49ers FA Charvarius Ward, Colts Agree to 3-Year Contract Worth Up to $60M

Veteran cornerback Charvarius Ward is going to play the 2025 season with the Indianapolis Colts after spending the previous three seasons with the San Francisco 49ers.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Ward and the Colts agreed to a three-year contract worth up to $60 million. The deal reportedly includes $35 million guaranteed and a $20 million signing bonus.

This comes after Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported the Colts agreed to sign safety Cam Bynum to a four-year, $60 million contract in free agency.

Ward is coming off a 2024 season that by his own admission was the "worst" of his life for reasons that had nothing to do with football. He missed three games in November after announcing his daughter, Amani Joy, died just before her second birthday.

Speaking to reporters after the season, Ward said he was unsure about returning to the 49ers and staying in the Bay Area because of that trauma.

Ward had the best season of his career in 2023. He was named to the Pro Bowl and All-Pro second team after leading the NFL with 23 pass breakups.

Prior to his difficult 2024, Ward had been fairly consistent throughout his career. He averaged 70 combined tackles, 12 pass breakups and two interceptions per season in five years from 2019 to '23.

Ward spent the past three seasons with the 49ers after joining them as a free agent. He began his career with the Kansas City Chiefs, turning into one of their great developmental success stories as an undrafted free agent in 2018.

The 2025 campaign will be Ward's age-29 season, which is approaching the older side for NFL cornerbacks but isn't at the point when you would expect a significant drop-off.

This is a bet by the Colts that Ward can return to his 2023 form. If he does, it will completely transform their secondary and push their defense into being a very good unit in their pursuit of a playoff berth in 2025.