49ers predicted to land Steelers $35 million rising star to replace Charvarius Ward

As the San Francisco 49ers struggle to keep their Super Bowl hopes alive, they also must start preparing for the impending departure of certain key free agents.

Cornerback Charvarius Ward could be the biggest name to leave San Francisco this spring. He's expected to be one of the top players available at the position, and losing him would be tough to weather for the 5-5 49ers.

In 2023, Ward was a Pro Bowler and second-team All-Pro, setting a career-high with five interceptions and leading the NFL with 23 pass breakups. He's still been effective this season, but hasn't yet picked off a pass, and has seemingly been passed by Deommodore Lenoir on the depth chart.

Lenoir recently got a five-year, $92 million extension, which makes it seem less probable that Ward will be back in free agency. If Ward does leave, the 49ers will likely need to scramble to find another corner, and they could dip right back into the free-agent pool to do so.

Donte Jackson, who originally signed a three-year, $35 million deal with the Carolina Panthers, has been excellent this season as a trade acquisition for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Matt Holder of Bleacher Report recently predicted that the 49ers would sign Jackson this spring.

"If the 49ers move off of Ward, Steelers cornerback Donte Jackson should be a top target. He recently turned 29 and experienced some up-and-down play with the Panthers, which could make him more of a budget-friendly option," Holder said.

"However, Jackson has been fantastic since arriving in Pittsburgh via an offseason trade."

2024 is Jackson's seventh NFL season, and it's been his best so far. He had never allowed a season-long passer rating below 78 when targeted, but this year, he's allowing a stingy 56.2 rating to opposing passers. He also has three interceptions through 10 games, only one short of his previous career-high.

If Jackson keeps playing this well, he could be tough to fit into the 49ers' budget. Signing any free-agent corner is likely predicated on letting Ward walk, so the gap between the two salaries would have to be substantial enough to warrant moving on from one of San Francisco's own.

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