Niner Noise
FanSided

San Francisco 49ers: 5 under-the-radar players you should watch in training camp

By Peter Panacy

SANTA CLARA, CA - AUGUST 7: San Francisco 49ers stretch during a practice session at Levi's Stadium on August 7, 2015 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - AUGUST 7: San Francisco 49ers stretch during a practice session at Levi's Stadium on August 7, 2015 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /
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MIAMI GARDENS, FL – DECEMBER 30: Chris Evans #12 of the Michigan Wolverines tries to avoid the tackle of Tarvarus McFadden #4 of the Florida State Seminoles in the first half during the Capitol One Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium on December 30, 2016 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images)
MIAMI GARDENS, FL – DECEMBER 30: Chris Evans #12 of the Michigan Wolverines tries to avoid the tackle of Tarvarus McFadden #4 of the Florida State Seminoles in the first half during the Capitol One Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium on December 30, 2016 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images) /

No. 3: Cornerback Tarvarus McFadden

It was a bit of a shock to see former Florida State cornerback Tarvarus McFadden go undrafted in the 2018 NFL Draft.

Especially considering he was viewed as one of NCAA’s top corners entering 2017.

McFadden fell off his final season at Florida State, coming nowhere near close to the eight-interception campaign he enjoyed in 2016. Tack on an awfully slow 4.67 40-yard time at the NFL Scouting Combine last spring, and one can see how McFadden dropped from a high-profile prospect to an undrafted free agent.

Still, there are workable commodities there. At 6-foot-2 and 204 pounds, McFadden has the ideal body type for coordinator Robert Saleh’s Cover 3 defense. McFadden is long-limbed and, when he’s on, uses his football IQ to put himself in position to make plays.

That’s where training camp will come into play. McFadden will have to improve on his straight-line speed, although it’s possible that’s been maxed out. If that’s the case, he’ll have to rely on his football smarts and positioning instead.

Rookie defensive backs tend to struggle transitioning to the pro ranks. The coverage schemes are more complex, opponents’ routes are more difficult to read and the level of competition is significantly higher.

McFadden won’t have the luxury of a learning curve here, unless he’s content with a spot on the practice squad.