What did the 49ers do with the Charvarius Ward compensatory pick?
TL;DR
The San Francisco 49ers received a fourth-round compensatory pick, No. 138 overall, for Charvarius Ward, who signed with the Indianapolis Colts. This pick is part of their six total selections in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Key points
- 49ers received a fourth-round compensatory pick for Charvarius Ward
- Ward signed a three-year, $54 million deal with the Colts
- The compensatory pick is No. 138 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft
How did the 49ers get a compenstatory pick for Charvarius Ward?
The 49ers were awarded a fourth-round compensatory pick for the loss of Ward, who signed a three-year, $54 million deal with the Indianapolis Colts last offseason. They got the No. 138 overall pick, which was their second of three compensatory picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. There were eight compensatory free agents who earned a higher average annual value than Ward last offseason. Three of those resulted in third-round compensatory picks (Nos. 97-99), while the other five resulted in fourth-round compensatory picks (Nos. 133-137). That included Aaron Banks, for whom the 49ers got the No. 133 overall pick.
How did Charvarius Ward perform for the Colts in 2025?
Ward was crucial for the Colts in their hot start to the season, allowing just a 56.8 percent completion rate and an 81.4 passer rating on the year. He also had seven pass breakups, but he only played in seven games due to suffering three concussions, which kept him on Injured Reserve for the rest of the year. Despite retirement questions, he is expected to return for the 2026 season, where he’ll form a tandem with midseason acquisition Sauce Gardner.
What did the 49ers do with the compensatory pick from Charvarius Ward leaving?
When the 49ers pick at 148, we will update.
**What is a compensatory pick?**
Compensatory picks are awarded to teams that suffer a net loss of qualifying free agents during the previous year’s free agency period. So 2026 NFL Draft compensatory picks are awarded due to free agents lost in 2025. Then those players are ranked on the amount of salary, playing time, and a bunch of other criteria and slotted into the end of rounds three through seven.
Q&A
How did the 49ers acquire a compensatory pick for Charvarius Ward?
The 49ers were awarded a fourth-round compensatory pick for Charvarius Ward's departure after he signed a three-year, $54 million deal with the Colts.
What is the significance of the 49ers' compensatory pick in the 2026 NFL Draft?
The compensatory pick allows the 49ers to bolster their roster, having a total of six picks in the draft, which is significantly fewer than the 11 they had the previous year.
What were Charvarius Ward's performance stats during his time with the Colts?
In 2025, Charvarius Ward allowed a 56.8% completion rate and an 81.4 passer rating, along with seven pass breakups, despite playing only seven games due to injuries.
