2018 NFL Draft: Breaking down SS Marcell Harris to the 49ers in Round 6
By Peter Panacy
The San Francisco 49ers continued their stock-up on safeties, adding Florida defensive back Marcell Harris in Round 6 of the 2018 NFL Draft. Let’s break it down.
Knowing the secondary was a primary area of weakness last season, the San Francisco 49ers continued their stockpiling of defensive backs in the 2018 NFL Draft by adding former Florida safety Marcell Harris at No. 184 overall in Round 6.
Harris, 6-foot-1 and 216 pounds, projects best as a strong safety. And while he also comes with injury concerns — missing all of 2017 with an Achilles injury — Harris does have hard-hitting abilities not unlike the Niners’ likely starter at the position, Jaquiski Tartt.
One has to look at Harris’ 2016 numbers as a possible indicator of what to expect at the pro level. Playing primarily down in the box, Harris registered a total of 73 tackles, with four of those coming for a loss:
Provided by CFB at Sports Reference: View Original Table
Generated 4/28/2018.
These efforts would have suggested a promising senior year, but that Achilles injury certainly hurt his draft stock.
It’s highly unlikely Harris overtakes Tartt anytime soon, and he’s still a work in progress above anything else. But what can we expect out of Harris this upcoming season?
Strengths
If there’s one element to describe Harris, it’s intimidation.
Harris plays with tremendous physicality. He’s a heavy hitter at the line of scrimmage, capable of going after ball carriers in crowds or in open space.
You can get that idea from this tackle, courtesy of Fourth and Nine’s Dylan DeSimone, on Harris’ tackle of 49ers quarterback C.J. Beathard:
This is the kind of physical approach one can expect out of Harris. He doesn’t shy from contact, which is crucial for San Francisco’s 4-3 Under defense.
Weaknesses
While Harris can hold his own in coverage, it’s not exactly his strength. Harris can be fooled by more complex routes, often biting on initial dekes and moves. As a result, Harris’ route recognition needs a good deal of work at the pro level, and he’ll struggle against some of the better route runners in the NFL.
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His speed (4.60 40-yard time) likely eliminates him as a candidate for free safety duties, as there’s a general lack of ranginess atop a Cover 3-type defense.
Projected Role with the 49ers
Harris is no guarantee to make the 53-man roster, especially considering how many defensive backs the Niners have taken in the NFL Draft thus far.
If he does make the roster, it’s likely he’ll serve as a key backup to Tartt and a role player on special teams.
This is a need, as the safety crop experienced some pretty hefty attrition last year. Tartt, former 49ers safety Eric Reid and defensive back Jimmie Ward all suffered elongated injuries a year ago.
Of course, this attrition led to the maturation and emergence of 2017 rookie, seventh-round selection of Adrian Colbert.
Next: 49ers' 2018 NFL Draft tracker with grades & analysis
So, perhaps, San Francisco is hoping Harris emerges as yet another late-round find at this particular spot.