The San Francisco 49ers announced on Monday that they had exercised their team option on Jimmie Ward’s rookie contract. Ward was signed through 2017, and the option signs him through 2018. Even though he is moving to free safety, Ward will earn the cornerback option salary (approximately $8.526 million) because he played his third year snaps at cornerback.
Ward was one of 23 first round picks from the 2014 NFL draft to have his option exercised. Three of the remaining players were released at some point before their option came up, including Cleveland Browns cornerback Justin Gilbert and quarterback Johnny Manziel, and New England Patriots defensive tackle Dominique Easley.