Niner Noise
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San Francisco 49ers: Ranking the top 25 players for 2018

By Chris Wilson

SANTA CLARA, CA - NOVEMBER 20: DeForest Buckner #99 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after he sacked Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots at Levi's Stadium on November 20, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - NOVEMBER 20: DeForest Buckner #99 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after he sacked Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots at Levi's Stadium on November 20, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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San Francisco 49ers Jaquiski Tartt
SANTA CLARA, CA – SEPTEMBER 10: Jaquiski Tartt #29 of the San Francisco 49ers intercepts a pass intended for Kelvin Benjamin #13 of the Carolina Panthers during the second quarter of their NFL football game at Levi’s Stadium on September 10, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

12. SS Jaquiski Tartt

Safety Jaquiski Tartt was in the midst of a breakout season before a Week-9 forearm injury landed him on injured reserve for the remainder of 2017. However, Lynch and Shanahan saw all they needed from the third-year safety in those first nine games, as they allowed safety Eric Reid to walk in free agency, and instead signed Tartt to a two-year contract extension.

Tartt can play both safety positions, but is a better fit at strong safety — particularly in the 49ers’ single-high scheme, where he excelled in 2017.

Tartt has the size necessary to play in the box and attack in the run game, and the coverage skills needed to both protect the flat in Cover-3 and man up on high-caliber tight ends in Cover-1. A year after Pro Football Focus ranked Tartt as the 16th best safety in the league, Tartt will be aiming for elite status in 2018.