5 free-agent 49ers who can now be re-signed on cheaper deals

49ers free-agent No. 1: Safety Jaquiski Tartt

K’Waun Williams and strong safety Jaquiski Tartt have a number of things in common outside of just being two of the better players from the Niners’ defensive backfield in recent seasons.

Both returned to San Francisco on one-year deals last offseason after there wasn’t much of a market for either of them, and both are facing what seems to be lackluster interest in 2022, too.

In Tartt’s case, however, the 49ers aren’t exactly well-prepared to deal with a would-be Tartt free-agent departure. Sure, the Niners drafted backup safety Talanoa Hufanga a year ago, but Hufanga’s deep-level coverage skills remain a liability, and his lack of straight-line speed is a concern as well. If anything, Hufanga’s year-one efforts suggested he’d be a high-quality special teams contributor with the potential of serving as a big-nickel safety.

Want your voice heard? Join the Niner Noise team!

Write for us!

Not much more.

Tartt, when healthy, makes San Francisco’s secondary exceptionally better. And even though re-signing him would come with additional injury concerns, a fairly deep NFL free agency market at safety has likely pushed down any interest Tartt might have had across the league.

Granted, Tartt might not be willing to accept a bargain-basement offer from the 49ers again this offseason, rather electing to hold out until the right offer comes his way.

But the longer he waits, the better the chances of the Niners welcoming him back.