San Francisco 49ers: 5 current players who won’t make 2021 roster

No. 1: 49ers Safety Marcell Harris

Earlier this offseason, it seemed almost certain the Niners were going to bid farewell to Jaquiski Tartt after he spent his entire career in San Francisco, thereby opening up the door for backup safeties Tarvarius Moore and Marcell Harris to compete for the starting bid in training camp.

But the 49ers elected to retain Tartt on a one-year deal while also adding the veteran, former Indianapolis Colts safety Tavon Wilson, to round out the depth chart.

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With defensive backs Jimmie Ward and second-year pro Jared Mayden also in play, the Niners’ safety situation is going to be one of the more provocative camp battles in training camp this year.

Yet if San Francisco elects to keep only four safeties, one of the carryovers from last season will likely have to go.

Neither Moore nor Harris was particularly great in coverage last year. But Harris’ 36.6 pass-coverage grade in 2020, per Pro Football Focus, was the worst of anyone from this group with any substantial defensive snaps. And even though Tartt comes with an injury history, it seems much more likely the 49ers would put their faith in players like Moore and Wilson to back up the starting safety duo of Ward and Tartt.

Harris had some splash plays ever since being drafted by the Niners in 2018, but they were far overshadowed by his gaffes in coverage.

While there was promise there initially, it’s probably best San Francisco ensures its depth winds up being less a liability than Harris was when asked to fill in for Tartt.