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San Francisco 49ers: 2018 rookie defensive backs have been non-factors so far

By Peter Panacy

CARSON, CA - SEPTEMBER 30: D.J. Reed #32 of the San Francisco 49ers fumbles the ball during a kick return as he is tackled by Michael Davis #43 of the Los Angeles Chargers during the fourth quarter of the game at StubHub Center on September 30, 2018 in Carson, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
CARSON, CA - SEPTEMBER 30: D.J. Reed #32 of the San Francisco 49ers fumbles the ball during a kick return as he is tackled by Michael Davis #43 of the Los Angeles Chargers during the fourth quarter of the game at StubHub Center on September 30, 2018 in Carson, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /
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The San Francisco 49ers have received very limited production from their rookie defensive backs in 2018, which is a bit of a concern given the amount of investment there.

The San Francisco 49ers spent three of their nine total picks in the 2018 NFL Draft on defensive backs. And so far, the returns on investments haven’t exactly been stellar.

There are certain, understandable reasons for this. Moore is amid the transition from safety to cornerback — a position he never played at the collegiate level — as the Niners defense looks to take advantage of his lanky 6-foot-2, 200-pound frame.

Reed, meanwhile, has seen action at both free safety and nickel corner. Earlier this season, Pro Football Focus listed the Kansas State product as San Francisco’s best day three selection from this year’s draft. But it less about Reed excelling than it was about him receiving the accolade merely by default.

The 49ers haven’t exactly received a ton of notable production from any of their players selected between Round 4 and 7.

Reed has seen the most defensive snaps out of this trio — 181 in total (just under 28 percent) — and has been a fairly regular contributor on special teams. But that hasn’t equated to lofty production, of course, as Reed has been responsible for two lost fumbles on special teams already.

And when filling in at either cornerback or safety because of injuries, Reed has been a liability just the same.

Harris’ presence was limited by a 2017 collegiate Achilles injury that held him out until Week 9. He’s seen only six defensive snaps this season, so he remains a work in progress.

Essentially, that’s the theme with this crop of defensive backs. Moore was largely seen as a day three prospect until his blazing 4.32 40-yard time at his pro day back on Mar. 29 of this year. The 49ers were banking on the hope he’d be able to transition smoothly enough and learn boundary cornerback.

“Yeah, he’s gotten a lot better,” defensive coordinator Robert Saleh said of Moore’s development last October (h/t David Fucillo of Niners Nation). “His practice habits are fantastic. He’s gotten better every single day. He’s one play away now.”

To date, Moore has primarily seen field time on special teams only. Going into the final stretch of games, however, it wouldn’t be shocking to see if Moore can live up to the third-round investment made in him.

As a disclaimer, it’s important to note rookie defensive backs can struggle transitioning from the collegiate ranks to the pros. Opponents’ routes are far more complex, and the overall abilities of even the most modest receiving targets are stronger than nearly anything players like Moore, Reed and Harris would have seen in college.

Yet the troubling thing is that these three investments could still be a long way from paying off, which is concerning when considering the shortages and weaknesses in San Francisco’s secondary.

Next. 3 backups who need to start for 49ers over the rest of 2018. dark

These final six games in 2018 will go a long way in determining whether or not the Niners made the right move with all three players.