Niner Noise
FanSided

San Francisco 49ers: Player locks for starting positions in 2018

By Peter Panacy

SANTA CLARA, CA - NOVEMBER 12: Adrian Colbert #38 of the San Francisco 49ers breaks up a pass intended for Tavarres King #12 of the New York Giants during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on November 12, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - NOVEMBER 12: Adrian Colbert #38 of the San Francisco 49ers breaks up a pass intended for Tavarres King #12 of the New York Giants during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on November 12, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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SANTA CLARA, CA – NOVEMBER 12: Adrian Colbert #38 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after a play against the New York Giants during their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium on November 12, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – NOVEMBER 12: Adrian Colbert #38 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after a play against the New York Giants during their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium on November 12, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

Safety

Strong Safety: Jaquiski Tartt

Free Safety: Adrian Colbert

Safety figures to be one of the positions with a bit of a log jam in 2018, although the 49ers appear to have two clear-cut starters in line for the upcoming season.

Strong safety Jaquiski Tartt ended up pushing out the veteran, Eric Reid, from his starting duties midway through last year. Tartt fell victim to injured reserve with a season-ending arm injury, but not before posting an 85.7 overall Pro Football Focus grade after nine games — best among all Niners defensive backs.

Tartt likely makes Reid, a pending free agent, expendable this offseason. And it would be something of a shock to see Reid back, even though he finished his 2017 campaign on a high note.

Like Tartt, rookie defensive back Adrian Colbert came into a starting role due to injuries, namely the broken forearm suffered by Jimmie Ward.

Colbert, a seventh-round draft pickup, looks to be every part a regular starter, and his 78.9 PFF grade ranked fourth best among all rookie safeties: