4 backups SF 49ers should start over final 3 games of 2020

No. 2: SF 49ers Safety Jared Mayden

The past few weeks have shown the real likelihood the SF 49ers don’t have a long-term answer at safety with third-year pro Tarvarius Moore, who is capable of the splash play here and there but lacks the above-average coverage skills to be reliable on a full-time basis.

Meanwhile, fellow safety Marcell Harris is much more adept against the run than the pass, opening up the door for some harder looks down the depth chart.

Undrafted rookie Jared Mayden is still on the practice squad/injured list, and it’s hard to gauge where he’s at with his attempts to get back on the field.

But if he’s good to go, it’s worth a shot putting him into a prominent starting role.

Mayden received some notable praise just after the 2020 NFL Draft as being one of the prime undrafted free agents out there, and Niner Noise even ranked him as the Niners’ best UDFA signing of the offseason.

While the former Alabama product has a long way to go to become even a decent backup option, giving him some extra looks down the stretch would at least provide an example what that depth chart could look like in the secondary in 2021.