Niner Noise
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San Francisco 49ers: 5 most surprising roster cuts of 2018

By Peter Panacy

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 24: Aaron Burbridge #13 of the San Francisco 49ers leads teammates onto the field before the game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 24, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 24: Aaron Burbridge #13 of the San Francisco 49ers leads teammates onto the field before the game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 24, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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RALEIGH, NC – NOVEMBER 05: Defensive back Tarvarus McFadden #4 of the Florida State Seminoles waves to the crowd following the Florida State Seminoles’ victory over the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Carter-Finley Stadium on November 5, 2016 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Mike Comer/Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC – NOVEMBER 05: Defensive back Tarvarus McFadden #4 of the Florida State Seminoles waves to the crowd following the Florida State Seminoles’ victory over the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Carter-Finley Stadium on November 5, 2016 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Mike Comer/Getty Images) /

No. 2: Cornerback Tarvarus McFadden

Had he come out in the NFL Draft after his impressive 2016 campaign, cornerback Tarvarus McFadden likely would have been an early round pick.

But a poor 2017 effort, combined with lackluster results at the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine, McFadden ended up slipping all the way out of the draft this year and into undrafted free agency, where the 49ers grabbed him as a priority free agent.

It made sense. The 6-foot-2 Florida State product embodied the body type of cornerbacks for coordinator Robert Saleh’s defense. And speed might not have been the biggest concern either. Remember, the Niners’ No. 1 cornerback this season, Richard Sherman, wasn’t exactly known for breakneck speed either.

McFadden had a couple of impressive moments during the preseason, including a near interception against the Houston Texans back in the team’s second exhibition game.

It’s anyone’s guess whether or not an actual pick there would have changed McFadden’s chances.

As for now, he stands a chance to be named to the team’s practice squad, although The Athletic’s Matt Barrows noted the Niners weren’t intending to make this move.