49ers NFL Draft: 2022 7-round mock just before trade deadline
By Peter Panacy
Round 6, Pick No. 195 Overall (from Broncos): 49ers select safety Todd Harris Jr., LSU
The 49ers grabbed this pick from the Denver Broncos as part of the deal that sent depth linebacker Jonas Griffith and a seventh-round pick to this AFC squad just after the preseason.
Maybe there’ll be another Niners-Broncos trade at the NFL trade deadline again, but time is still clicking on that one.
At any rate, San Francisco has to be somewhat concerned about its depth at safety heading into next season, as the starting strong safety option, Jaquiski Tartt, is a free agent in 2022. His latest knee injury, which will keep him out a few weeks, is just the latest in a long line of setbacks that probably prompt the 49ers to let him walk anyway. Especially with this year’s rookie, Talanoa Hufanga, next in line to take over as a starter.
True, the Niners currently have veteran safeties Tavon Wilson and Tony Jefferson in-house. But neither seems pegged for long-term plans with the team, making a target like LSU safety Todd Harris Jr. a potential option in Round 6.
Harris, 6-foot-1 and 195 pounds, doesn’t possess the pedigree of many previous LSU defensive backs, but San Francisco can hope for similar success at the pro level regardless.
As a backup and special teams contributor, Harris might deliver what currently injured defensive back Tarvarius Moore wasn’t able to this season.