No. 3: 49ers Defensive Back Tarvarius Moore
One of the more frustrating players on the 49ers roster entering 2021 is defensive back Tarvarius Moore, who has shown flashes of being a quality playmaker yet has lacked the consistency to earn a true starting spot.
Case in point, his interception off Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes in Super Bowl LIV seemed to be a game-winner, but Moore’s regular problems with angles and pass-coverage gaffes have left a lot to be desired.
Last season, Pro Football Focus deemed Moore worthy of a merely so-so 56.1 pass-coverage grade, not good enough to be considered a full-time starter at safety.
As such, Moore has been relegated to a primary reserve in the secondary, serving as a big-nickel defensive back and fill-in option, both down in the box and atop the defense.
This might be fine now. But with strong safety Jaquiski Tartt having a lengthy injury history and being a free agent in 2022, and the Niners’ fifth-round NFL Draft pick, Talanoa Hufanga, looking like a strict in-the-box safety because of a lack of speed, San Francisco will want to know if Moore can be a player it looks to bring back in a bigger capacity next season.
Moore is also entering a contract year, by the way.
If Moore improves upon his pass-coverage skills, there’s a better chance he carves out a role for himself for the long run. On top of that, the 49ers will want to know they have some quality depth, too, which has been tested in recent years.