San Francisco 49ers: Full position grades for the 2018 season

It’s hard to grade San Francisco’s safety tandem this season, largely because of the sheer number of different combinations the team had to use over the course of the year. It started out, of course, with strong safety Jaquiski Tartt and free safety Adrian Colbert — both of whom finished the year on injured reserve.

San Francisco 49ers

So did backup defensive back Jimmie Ward.

Before Colbert suffered his high-ankle sprain, he was Pro Football Focus’ worst-graded starting safety, as KNBR 680’s Brad Almquist pointed out last October. That was a disappointment, considering Colbert’s breakout rookie campaign the year before and the importance of a single-high safety in defensive coordinator Robert Saleh’s scheme.

Ward improved a bit after bumping back from corner to safety, but him landing on IR is also a disappointment, considering it’s the fourth time in five years that’s happened to the former first-round NFL Draft pick.

Experimenting with the rookie, D.J. Reed, back there didn’t generate effective results. But at least rookie strong safety Marcell Harris flashed some promise down the stretch after missing both his 2017 collegiate season and the first half of 2018 with Achilles injuries. He should be in the mix for the starting job later this year.

At least both of the 49ers’ interceptions this year came from safeties, so there’s that to chew on.

Expect San Francisco to make some moves at this position during the offseason. They’re needed.