Predicting 49ers 2021 safety depth chart with Jaquiski Tartt back

49ers 2021 safety depth-chart predictions

One of the good wrinkles the 49ers have is Tarvarius Moore has served as both a big-nickel safety and a boundary cornerback over his three years in the league.

Versatility works in a backup candidate’s favor. And the fact the Niners have interchanged both safeties since predominantly relying on the single-high scheme in 2017 and 2018 also carries weight, too.

San Francisco 49ers

That said, it’s still only likely San Francisco carries four safeties on its 53-man roster by the time Week 1 rolls around:

1. Jimmie Ward
2. Jaquiski Tartt
3. Tarvarius Moore
4. Tavon Wilson

At 31 years old, Wilson isn’t a long-term solution. But he’s superior to either Moore or Marcell Harris in pass coverage. Plus, having some veteran’s savvy in the defensive backfield has some merits, too, especially with the free-agent departure of cornerback Richard Sherman.

Ward and Tartt are shoo-ins, provided they stay healthy between now and the regular season. And Moore gets in based on his positional flexibility, speed and size.

The odd players out in this case are Harris, Jared Mayden and Kai Nacua.

Harris has had his splash plays, yes. But the regular inconsistencies and coverage gaffes since late 2018 haven’t gone away, and the onboarding of Wilson suggests the 49ers are willing to move on despite bringing Harris back for another season.

Mayden and Nacua remain practice squad options, at best, depending on how the league formulates rules for adding players there.