4 needs 49ers failed to address during 2022 NFL Draft

No. 1: 49ers still have a noticeable void at safety

One could have accurately assumed San Francisco would use one of its first three picks on a safety, a player who could make up for the free-agent loss of strong safety Jaquiski Tartt, who could still feasibly return, as he remains unsigned.

That said, the 49ers were literally gifted the opportunity to land either one of two promising safeties, Kerby Joseph out of Illinois and Nick Cross out of Maryland, both of whom were still on the board when the Niners’ number was called for the first time in Round 3.

Instead, San Francisco elected to draft Tyrion Davis-Price at No. 93 overall, meaning both Joseph and Cross would be grabbed by the Detroit Lions and Indianapolis Colts, respectively, a few picks later and before the 49ers were back on the clock at No. 105 overall.

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Oops, perhaps?

As things stand now, the Niners are poised to enter 2022 with three candidates for the starting strong safety role: Talanoa Hufanga, George Odum and Tarvarius Moore. However, all three are pegged more as special teams contributors and not full-time starters, meaning San Francisco’s defense could soon feel that glaring shortcoming on the roster.

Unless Tartt re-signs, of course.