How 49ers DB Tarvarius Moore can change San Francisco’s NFL Draft plans

Tarvarius Moore vs. deeper options in the 2019 NFL Draft

Moore vs. Taylor Rapp and Johnathan Abram

Washington’s Taylor Rapp is a great player, one that the 49ers could add. However, he is not what the Niners need right now. Rapp, per Walter Football, will primarily be a strong safety in the NFL, as his coverage skills are not his strong suit. Same thing applies with Mississippi State’s Johnathan Abram, who projects as a dime linebacker, per Sports Illustrated.  Regardless of how good a player they are, the 49ers have no need for another strong safety, with Jaquiski Tartt and Marcell Harris both excellent options at that position.

To fill the single-high role, Moore would clearly be the move.

Moore vs. Chauncey Gardner-Johnson

After Adderley, many of the top safeties are not pure single-high safeties. Some of them, like Rapp, are guaranteed strong/box safeties following the draft. Others like Florida’s Chauncey Gardner-Johnson have the capacity to play both positions.

Gardner-Johnson played for Florida, so there’s no concern of easy competition. Compared to Moore, though, it’s hard to say that Gardner-Johnson is the better free safety. Zierlein breaking him down wrote how “Gardner-Johnson is too often a step behind in his reads and reaction allowing completions that could be breakups.”

If Gardner-Johnson, who also would have to be taken in the second round, has the same issue of “polish” like Moore, then my money goes to the player with better raw tools. Moore’s 40-yard time beats that of almost every safety in the draft, and that sideline-to-sideline ability is crucial.

The 49ers should opt for the cheaper, more explosive option in house.

Moore vs. Darnell Savage Jr.

This is hard. Not just because Maryland’s Darnell Savage is my favorite secondary player in the NFL Draft, but because the two players are largely the same. Savage was discounted throughout the year. But the pre-draft process, with his 40-yard time (4.39) and overall testing, found on the Draft Network, had him shoot up draft boards.

The only major knock I have on Savage is his size; he’s very small at 5-foot-11, not that it would matter much at the free safety position. Savage also could be available in the third round, and he would definitely be available in the second round. But again, Moore has the same ability and potential that Savage has. Savage would definitely be a solid addition, but why would the 49ers take a player they already have on their roster?

Although Moore is not a perfect player by any means, he has the required skills to be the free safety the Niners need, and putting him at free safety functionally acts as a draft pick. Each of these other players have flaws or cost quite a bit of capital. Moving Moore to free safety is the best move the 49ers can make for the team and regarding the draft.

If the Niners choose not to address the safety position in Round 2, who do you think they should select. I would select wide receiver A.J. Brown. Comment down below!