San Francisco 49ers: Predicting 53-man roster after 2020 NFL Draft

Safeties (4)

Jimmie Ward

Jaquiski Tartt

Tarvarius Moore

Marcell Harris

Practice Squad: Jared Mayden

The safety group is much like the linebackers: pretty much unchanged from the 2019 team.

The 49ers brought back free safety Jimmie Ward during free agency with a three-year, $28.5 million deal that included $17 million guaranteed. He’ll be locked in as the back end of the defense for the next few years barring any injury.

Strong safety Jacquiski Tartt has been a vital part of the 49ers defense since he came into the league as a second-round draft pick out of Samford in 2015. Without Tartt in the lineup last season, the 49ers allowed almost 140 more passing yards per game than he was in the lineup. A pending 2021 free agent, he could be a candidate for an extension this year.

Both reserves played important roles last year and look to return for 2020.

Marcell Harris was not part of the initial 53-man roster in 2019, but came back to join the practice squad and ended up starting four games in Tartt’s stead last year. With two more years of team control and Tartt on the final years of his deal, it stands to reason that the team will want to see what it has in their former sixth-round selection out of Florida.

In the case of Tarvarius Moore, while he may no longer be seen as a long-term option with Ward returning for at least two more seasons, he did play well when called upon last year, even nabbing a late interception in the Super Bowl as a dime defensive back.

An interesting name here is UDFA and former Alabama safety Jared Mayden. He was the more unheralded member of the Alabama secondary, but played in 36 games during four seasons, notching 44 tackles, four interceptions, 10 pass defenses and a sack.

He’s a little undersized at just 6-foot-0 and 201 pounds, but he does have experience at all defensive back positions during his time at Alabama, versatility that could work to his advantage.

Mayden looks like a good practice squad candidate who could be the team’s 55th man.