49ers 2020 training camp: One battle to watch for each position
By Peter Panacy
49ers Safety: Marcell Harris or Jared Mayden?
San Francisco already has its starting safety tandem in place for 2020: Jimmie Ward at free safety and Jaquiski Tartt at strong safety.
But the backup spots are a little less certain.
Both Ward and Tartt have injury histories, so finding some adequate depth is going to be vital. On the surface, one would suspect third-year pro Marcell Harris is the favorite to back up Tartt closer to the box, which would also allow Tartt to move to free safety (he’s done so before) in the event Ward is injured.
Yet Harris, while adept at stopping the run, has shown to be a liability in pass coverage. Watching him blow coverages against the New Orleans Saints last year wasn’t particularly fun, and it could be one of the reasons the 49ers made inking former Alabama undrafted safety Jared Mayden a high priority after the 2020 NFL Draft.
Mayden is a player to watch this summer and is someone who could easily push Harris for immediate backup duties on the 53-man roster.
It’s important, too, because Tartt enters a contract year. Should Mayden find himself on the quick ascent, it might allow the Niners to let the former walk in free agency when the 2020 season comes to a close.