49ers roster: Predicting safety depth chart after drafting Talanoa Hufanga
By Peter Panacy
Safeties currently on the 49ers roster
Just because the Niners have a lot of bodies at the position doesn’t mean it’s necessarily a deep group, although the addition of Talanoa Hufanga does help matters quite a bit.
Currently, San Francisco has eight safeties heading towards minicamps and OTAs:
- Marcell Harris
- Talanoa Hufanga
- Jared Mayden
- Tarvarius Moore
- Kai Nacua
- Jaquiski Tartt
- Jimmie Ward
- Tavon Wilson
Another rookie fifth-round pick, Oregon defensive back Deommodore Lenoir, can also play safety. But he’ll likely be tabbed as a long-term nickel cornerback.
Most teams typically carry no more than four safeties, and the reserve two often have to be versatile enough to play both the free and strong safety spots. With the 49ers’ recent switch to more traditional Cover 2 looks, thereby making both safeties a bit more interchangeable, this should be a bit easier.
The ability to double on special teams is likely going to be a requirement, too.
But there are some major question marks already with regards to the depth, and the addition of Hufanga along with the veteran, Wilson, earlier this offseason help reveal why the Niners wanted to upgrade this position.
That’s one storyline to watch.