In just two weeks, nearly two dozen Kansas City Chiefs players are scheduled to become free agents.
One pending free agent in the defensive secondary, who has been fairly glossed over in terms of his importance is CB Charvarius Ward. A starter in Kansas City since 2019, Ward has been a key contributor and a starter in over 40 games during that span. He’s been the team’s size matchup on the perimeter for quite some time and he effectively put together his best season as a professional in 2022.
Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Veach offered up effusive praise for Ward. He specifically noted Ward’s growth since joining the team via trade back in 2018.
“He’s a really good player,” Veach said of Ward. “And talking about what he’s accomplished over the last four years – acquiring him via trade from Dallas. Early on, right off the bat, he showed how talented he was on special teams. Then year-by-year he got better and better and better. He’s certainly a guy, just like Tyrann (Mathieu) and more of these players – we’re going to have dialogue with him.”
The Chiefs will have a dialogue with Ward and his agents, but he’s expected to command a contract averaging nearly $10 million per year. That could pose some challenges when it comes to bringing Ward back to the team, especially if he hits the open market and they find themselves bidding for his services.
“I’d love to have Charvarius (Ward) back,” Veach continued. “He’s a talented player. He’s done well in our scheme. Coaches like him. I like him. It’s one of those things that you have to work through in free agency when you have a talented roster. You try to keep as many of these guys you can under contract. But he’ll be a guy that we’ll certainly look forward to spending a lot of time with the next few weeks.”
As is the case with Tyrann Mathieu, if Ward’s not back with the Chiefs in 2022, it won’t be because the team doesn’t want him back. Veach seems to be approaching the offseason frugally, with the goal of improving in the interim without damaging the team’s ability to remain competitive in the future. If they can keep Ward without compromising those goals, expect it to be done.
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