49ers depth chart: Tarvarius Moore poised to start at strong safety

The 49ers have received modest contributions from their 2018 third-round NFL Draft pick, Tarvarius Moore, but he’s penciled in as a starter in 2022 now.

You’d be forgiven if you forgot fifth-year San Francisco 49ers defensive back Tarvarius Moore was still on the roster heading into 2022.

A key reason is the 2018 Round 3 NFL Draft pick out of Southern Mississippi spent all of last season on the physically unable-to-perform list after suffering a torn Achilles during offseason workouts, essentially pushing what was the final year of his original rookie deal into 2022.

Now, Moore is going from the ranks of the forgotten into a very real possibility of starting for the Niners in 2022.

49ers still haven’t re-signed Jaquiski Tartt

San Francisco elected to pass on grabbing a safety in the 2022 NFL Draft in the wake of letting veteran strong safety Jaquiski Tartt his the free agency market this offseason.

This led some to think it might be a good idea for the 49ers to re-sign Tartt on yet another team-friendly one-year deal, as the market on him doesn’t appear to be too great, yet general manager John Lynch told NBC Sports Bay Area the Niners hadn’t been in contact with Tartt since his contract expired:

"We haven’t talked to him. We haven’t gone there, yet. We will see. He’s a free agent. We think highly of Jaquiski, he’s played a lot of good football for us and we’re grateful for that. Talented, talented dude."

As the days have passed since the draft, San Francisco appears further and further away from engineering a new deal with Tartt.

That’s good news for Moore.

Tarvarius Moore the favorite to start for 49ers at strong safety

The 49ers didn’t wholly avoid the safety position this offseason, inking former Indianapolis Colts All-Pro special teams ace George Odum in free agency and then adding former Texas A&M defensive back Leon O’Neal Jr. following the NFL Draft.

Odum is an option, having started 10 games over his four-year career. But like second-year safety Talanoa Hufanga, Odum is geared more towards special teams duties.

And it’s far too premature to assume O’Neal should be thrust into a starting role in year one.

There are a few things to chew on with regards to Moore starting. His sub-4.4 pro-day time before the 2018 draft was a prime reason he snuck into Round 3 that year, and that ranginess will make him far more interchangeable a piece with free safety Jimmie Ward than either the slower Hufanga and O’Neal.

But will the effects of that Achilles injury play a role for Moore?

Read More: Free agents 49ers absolutely must add after 2022 NFL Draft

On top of that, Moore had been given chances to secure a starting job each year since he was drafted, only reverting to primarily big-nickel duties and special teams roles, evidenced by him starting only 13 games between 2018 and 2020.

However, head coach Kyle Shanahan felt Moore could step into that starting role, telling NBC Sports Bay Area the following:

"He played half a year as a starter and we thought he finished his last five games as a true starting safety, and before that he was always one of our best special teams players."

Just because the first few years of his career have been relatively pedestrian doesn’t automatically mean Moore will fail the challenge. All one needs to do is look back at Ward’s own career as a perfect example of why young defensive backs can struggle with the acclimation to life at the pro level before turning into bona fide contributors.

Perhaps that’s what Lynch, Shanahan and the Niners see in Moore entering 2022.

Provided they don’t make any other roster moves like bringing Tartt back.