No. 3: 49ers Safety Jaquiski Tartt
The Niners finally got the kind of production out of safety Jaquiski Tartt they were hoping for when they selected him in Round 2 of the 2015 NFL Draft.
Tartt finished 2019 with 48 tackles, two pass breakups and two fumble recoveries, which helped him earn a solid 66.4 overall Pro Football Focus grade on the season. And Tartt was a big reason why San Francisco boasted the league’s No. 1 pass defense a year ago.
Like Richard Sherman, Ahkello Witherspoon and K’Waun Williams, however, Tartt is entering a contract year. Depending on how Tartt plays this year, the 49ers re-signing him beyond 2020 could prove to be a tough challenge.
Especially if Tartt plays anything close to the level he enjoyed a year ago.
San Francisco doesn’t have too many top-quality reserve options behind Tartt. Backup safety Marcell Harris has proven to be a solid run defender, but his pass-coverage efforts are less than desirable. Former Alabama safety Jared Mayden, an undrafted free agent, could be a sleeper option down the line.
Or, perhaps, the 49ers consider moving Sherman from boundary cornerback to strong safety. That’s always a possibility if Sherman re-signs for 2021.
Either way, there’s a good chance the Niners look to replace Tartt after this upcoming season.