SF 49ers roster: 3 options to replace Jaquiski Tartt in 2021
By Peter Panacy
No. 3 SF 49ers Option: Jared Mayden
The SF 49ers have had plenty of good finds with their undrafted free-agent classes in recent years, and the hope is second-year pro defensive back Jared Mayden winds up being the next in line here.
The former Alabama standout received some lofty praise leading up to the 2020 NFL Draft from ESPN’s Mel Kiper, although Mayden was mostly overshadowed during his collegiate tenure by his former teammate with the Crimson Tide, now-NY Giants safety Xavier McKinney. And while Mayden eventually went undrafted, it wasn’t hard to see how the Niners potentially landed themselves a steal.
Injury attrition meant Mayden saw some scant time up from the team’s practice squad his rookie season, and he finished the year having appeared in just two games with all of his snaps coming on special teams.
Still, the 6-foot-0, 205-pound safety could quickly fall in line with being one of those developmental prospects, not unlike cornerback Emmanuel Moseley, who also ascended from the UDFA ranks the previous season.
Mayden would have to take a big leap in training camp to showcase his value, but he might have the best long-term upside out of anyone left at the position on San Francisco’s roster.