25 Jimmie Ward CB

Ward's (collarbone) fifth-year option was exercised by the 49ers on Monday.

Ward's fifth-year option keeps him under contract with San Francisco through the 2018 season. A former cornerback, Ward is expected to convert to safety for the 2017 season. He had 53 tackles and 12 passes defensed while playing in 11 games in 2016.

With the 49ers opting not to draft a top-end safety in the draft, Ward (collarbone) will move to free safety in 2017, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Ward -- who was drafted as a safety in 2014 -- has been playing both the nickel and cornerback positions with the 49ers over the past three seasons. With Kyle Shanahan bringing in a new 4-3 defense based off of the scheme that the Seattle Seahawks run, the 25-year-old will fill a coverage safety role similar to Earl Thomas. San Francisco is expected to pick up Ward's fifth-year rookie option, and having him listed as a safety would save the team roughly $2.5 million in cap space. If he does indeed stick at safety this season, he could see an uptick in tackles, providing a boost to his IDP value.

Ward (collarbone) has been rumored to be moving to safety, but he could still play cornerback in 2017, Cam Inman of The Bay Area News Group reports.

Ward has played safety and corner since being drafted in 2014, and it remains unclear where he'll be slotted in 2017. General Manager John Lynch has indicated that Ward could see time at both positions throughout the year. The draft could impact where Ward plays, as an addition of corners or safeties could lead him to play wherever the team needs extra help.

49ers general manager John Lynch said that the team is considering moving Ward (collarbone) back to safety, CSN Bay Area reports.

Ward was drafted as a safety out of Northern Illinois in 2014, but the team moved him to nickel corner for the majority of the 2016 season. The athletic defensive back held his own, recording 53 tackles and an interception in 11 games before injuring his collarbone. The 49ers' new management group is considering moving Ward back to his natural position for their new defensive scheme. The 49ers released veteran safety Antoine Bethea, so there is currently an opening on the depth chart. Things could change as we progress through free agency and the draft, but if San Francisco follows through, Ward would see a boost in fantasy value as a safety if he were to secure a starting job.

Ward was placed on injured reserve Tuesday with a broken collarbone, Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area reports.

The only new point of emphasis here is that Ward is dealing with a broken collarbone, whereas his previous injury designation given by the team was simply a shoulder issue. He'll be done for the season nonetheless, with Keith Reaser and JaCorey Shepherd likely benefiting from added playing time in the final two weeks of the season.