49ers: Don't sleep on key reinforcements coming back in 2018

San Francisco 49ers: Don’t sleep on these key reinforcements coming back in 2018

SANTA CLARA, CA - JANUARY 01: Joshua Garnett #65 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after Shaun Draughn #24 of the San Francisco 49ers ran in for a touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks at Levi's Stadium on January 1, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

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SANTA CLARA, CA – SEPTEMBER 10: Jaquiski Tartt #29 of the San Francisco 49ers intercepts the pass intended for Kelvin Benjamin #13 of the Carolina Panthers while Dontae Johnson #36 of the San Francisco 49ers was also covering him at Levi’s Stadium on September 10, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

No. 4: Strong Safety Jaquiski Tartt (Forearm)

Safety Jaquiski Tartt’s 2017 campaign was solid enough to push a former first-round pick, Eric Reid, out of his own starting role earlier this season.

That was before Tartt suffered a broken forearm in Week 9 versus the Arizona Cardinals. Prior to that, Tartt earned an 85.7 overall grade, according to Pro Football Focus, which still ranks 17th out of 88 qualifiers.

That’s pretty good.

Tartt finally came into his own in coordinator Robert Saleh’s Cover 3 defense with the strong safety up in the box. And with Reid a pending free agent, Tartt’s maturation and development might be enough to convince the Niners brass to let the former walk, giving Tartt the opportunity to hold onto a full-time job.

And if he’s able to back up his abbreviated 2017 with another solid effort in 2018, the 49ers secondary should be all the more promising.