49ers roster: 5 players under most pressure to perform at OTAs
By Peter Panacy
No. 2: 49ers DB Tarvarius Moore
The last two years, the Niners gave their third-round pick from the 2018 NFL Draft, defensive back Tarvarius Moore, every chance to secure a starting job, either as a boundary cornerback or a starting free safety.
Moore is capable of splash plays, and the combination of his size and speed made for an intriguing addition to San Francisco’s secondary.
Yet Moore still hasn’t fully grasped the ability to be reliable in coverage. More importantly, it’s the lack of consistency that has resulted in him being no more than a big-nickel option and fill-in defensive back, and he’s needed to be the latter in the wake of frequent injuries to starting safeties Jimmie Ward and Jaquiski Tartt the last few years.
Moore still has a great chance to seize one of those backup spots, though, despite the 49ers signing veteran safety Tavon Wilson and drafting USC’s Talanoa Hufanga this offseason. Both of those players are pegged more as in-the-box safeties, whereas Moore’s natural fit was atop the defense.
That said, safety is a crowded group entering OTAs with Ward, Tartt, Hufanga, Wilson, Moore, Jared Mayden and Marcell Harris all competing for likely four spots on the depth chart.
And considering Moore is entering a contract year, he’ll want to prove his value early. And especially when press contact isn’t being allowed.