Much like fans of the other 31 NFL franchises, the San Francisco 49ers fanbase has been forced to say goodbye to several familiar faces this offseason. While replacing certain names won't be easy, long-time cornerback Charvarius Ward's departure is one that's stung 49ers supporters the most.
The 28-year-old ballhawk left after three seasons in the Bay, signing a three-year, $60 million contract with the Indianapolis Colts once free agency opened. Replacing Ward won't be easy, especially after racking up 41 broken-up passes and six interceptions (including a Pick-6) in 46 appearances since the start of 2022.
Although finding a perfect one-for-one replacement for Ward won't be easy, an intriguing name just became available to help the 49ers bolster their CB depth.
49ers Must Sign CB Jack Jones Following Raiders Release
NFL insider Ian Rapoport is reporting that the Las Vegas Raiders are releasing CB Jack Jones on Sunday afternoon. The Raiders were reportedly looking to trade the veteran pass disruptor, however, a lack of suitors led to a release being the only path forward.
The #Raiders are releasing CB Jack Jones, sources say, after Las Vegas attempted to trade him. An intriguing option for a CB-needy team. pic.twitter.com/KciN550fPz
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 6, 2025
In an NFL landscape where the free-agent market is drying up, the 49ers don't have much to lose by targeting Jones. He might not have the same resume as Ward, but that doesn't mean he can't be a solid contributor who keeps San Francisco's secondary looking respectable.
Jones, 27, was drafted 121st overall by the New England Patriots in 2022. He racked up 33 solo tackles, seven broken-up passes, and two interceptions in 18 games with the Patriots before his off-field issues became too much of a distraction, culminating in him being waived in November 2023.
Jones wasn't without a job for long, though, as he was claimed by the Raiders one day later. The former Arizona State Sun Devil went on to appear in 24 games (19 starts) for Las Vegas throughout the last two seasons, tallying 72 solo tackles, 20 disrupted passes, and five INTs across nearly 1,400 defensive snaps.
Having said that, Jones' final year with the Raiders was forgettable as he finished 2024 with a career-low 53.9 Pro Football Focus defense grade. The silver lining is that he was PFF's No. 33-ranked cornerback in 2023 with a grade of 71.6, meaning that leaving the AFC bottomfeeder could be what the 5-foot-11 CB needs to get his career back on track.
Since head coach Kyle Shanahan took over in 2017, 49ers DBs like Ward, Talanoa Hufanga, and Richard Sherman have earned first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors. Perhaps Jones could experience similar success with a move to San Francisco.
A turnaround performance could see Jones play a key role in a potential Super Bowl run. As it stands, the 49ers will continue into the NFL offseason tied for the ninth-best Super Bowl 60 odds (+2300) on FanDuel Sportsbook.
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