“Stockstill was just as impressed, and as NFL scouts passed through the school in 2017, he told them the same things: As impressive as Ward was that season, his real draw was that there was still so much room for improvement. After all, the guy had only been playing football for a few seasons.
The 49ers, who signed Ward to a three-year, $40.5 million free-agent deal last week, see the same promise of upside.