Niner Noise
FanSided

San Francisco 49ers: Predicting a Week 1 53-man roster, depth chart for 2018

By Peter Panacy

SANTA CLARA, CA - DECEMBER 24: The San Francisco 49ers huddle against the Jacksonville Jaguars during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on December 24, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Robert Reiners/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - DECEMBER 24: The San Francisco 49ers huddle against the Jacksonville Jaguars during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on December 24, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Robert Reiners/Getty Images) /
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SANTA CLARA, CA – DECEMBER 11: Robby Anderson #11 of the New York Jets is hit by Jaquiski Tartt #29 of the San Francisco 49ers during their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium on December 11, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – DECEMBER 11: Robby Anderson #11 of the New York Jets is hit by Jaquiski Tartt #29 of the San Francisco 49ers during their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium on December 11, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

Safety (4)

Free Safety: Adrian Colbert, Don Jones

Strong Safety: Jaquiski Tartt, Marcell Harris

San Francisco’s starting crop of safeties are pretty much set. After a strong rookie season a year ago, Adrian Colbert should have little trouble assuming the very back end of the 49ers defense at free safety. Meanwhile, Jaquiski Tartt is coming off an abbreviated breakout 2017 campaign in which he recorded an overall Pro Football Focus grade of 85.7 (highest among Niners defensive backs last year) before suffering a season-ending arm injury halfway through the year.

Instead, the questions start with the backups.

Ultimately, the final decision will center on which players excel on special teams. Veteran defensive back Don Jones led the Houston Texans’ special teams unit in tackles (11) back in 2016 but is coming off an ACL injury last year.

Meanwhile, San Francisco selected former Florida strong safety Marcell Harris in Round 6 of this year’s NFL Draft. Despite coming off an Achilles injury, Harris’ 6-foot-0, 208-pound frame is perfectly suited to handle in-the-box safety duties. He’ll back up Tartt this season.