49ers biggest winners, losers halfway through 2019 NFL preseason

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SANTA CLARA, CA – DECEMBER 09: Tarvarius Moore #33 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after a defensive play against the Denver Broncos at Levi’s Stadium on December 9, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /

Winner: Safety Tarvarius Moore

Being moved from cornerback to free safety was, perhaps, the best bit of news for second-year defensive back Tarvarius Moore.

Moore would have found himself in a logjam at cornerback, had he stayed there entering the preseason. After all, the 49ers are experiencing something of a resurgence from boundary corner Ahkello Witherspoon. Richard Sherman is healthier compared to 2018, too, and the offseason addition of Jason Verrett only crowds this position group.

Moore is back at his natural collegiate position, and the Niners have appeared intent on giving him as many reps as possible in order to secure a starting bid in 2019. This was apparent during San Francisco’s opening preseason bout against the Dallas Cowboys, when he saw the vast majority of snaps at free safety. And Moore was on the field substantially in Denver, recording ….

The 49ers might not be ready to hand Moore the starting job right away in 2019. It’ll still likely go to the veteran, Jimmie Ward, to start the year. But Moore’s trajectory towards starting is much easier at free safety than it would have been at cornerback.

And that certainly constitutes a win for Moore and, perhaps, for the Niners defense, too.