San Francisco 49ers Draft Roundup: Day 2
On Friday, the NFL Draft pushed on, and the San Francisco 49ers had two selections, one each in the second and third rounds. With the 46th overall pick, the 49ers took Samford safety Jaquiski Tartt, and with the 78th overall selection, the team took Virginia outside linebacker Eli Harold.
Tartt was the first player selected from a non-FBS school, the first player picked who played in the Senior Bowl, and became the highest-drafted player in Samford school history. He is an imposing safety, standing six-feet, one-inch tall, and weighing in around 220 pounds, and ran a 4.47 40-yard dash.
Jan 24, 2015; Mobile, AL, USA; South squad safety Jaquiski Tartt of Samford (6) enters the field during player introductions before the Senior Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. The North won, 34-13. Mandatory Credit: Glenn Andrews-USA TODAY Sports
The 23-year-old Tartt is a big hitter, and that is easy to see from watching video of him. The first player that came to mind when watching highlights was former Dallas Cowboys and Cincinnati Bengals safety Roy Williams. Both are large figures, and they are not afraid to lay the lumber.
Williams had the nickname “Biscuit”, as former head coach Bill Parcells referred to him as a “biscuit shy of being a linebacker.” Tartt has similar size, and seems like he’s one big meal away from lining up as an inside linebacker.
Not only can Tartt hit, but he is tough, as he played through 2014, his senior year, with a torn labrum in his right shoulder. He ended his college career with 277 tackles and six interceptions.
Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller, their Lead Draft Analyst, predicted that Tartt would go to the 49ers in the second round in his final mock draft.
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His role as it stands now is unclear, as the 49ers have Antoine Bethea (a Pro Bowler in 2014), 2013 first-round pick Eric Reid, and 2014 first-round pick Jimmie Ward. Reid has missed time with concussions, and Ward had a foot injury last year, so if the injuries persist, Tartt can step in and take their place.
Tartt and Ward are very familiar with each other, as they were high school teammates at Davidson High School in Mobile, Alabama, and are best friends. That should make the transition easier into the NFL lifestyle, as he already has a friend who lives it.
In the third round, the 49ers picked Harold, a pass-rushing outside linebacker from Virginia. Some draft circles had Harold rated as first or second-round talent, but he fell to the 49ers as the 78th pick.
Harold joins a talented group of outside linebackers who can get after the quarterback, as the 49ers have Aldon Smith and Ahmad Brooks. Aaron Lynch, a rookie in 2014, also showed a knack for causing havoc in the backfield, as he tied for the team’s lead with six sacks.
Harold stands 6’3″ and weighs about 250 pounds, and most closely resembles Brooks in stature. Brooks is an inch taller and about 10 pounds heavier than Harold. The Virginia-product ran a 4.60 40-yard dash at the combine, and should be able to use that speed to cause some mayhem.
The third-rounder was Second-Team All-ACC in 2014, his junior year, after racking up seven sacks, and 14.5 tackles for loss, plus an interception for good measure. Overall, he accumulated 17.5 sacks and 36.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage over his three-year college career.
According to Pro Football Focus, Harold was the ninth-highest rated 3-4 outside linebacker in this year’s draft.
Harold said he is “going to bring a lot of passion, toughness,” and that he is a “natural leader” who will do “whatever the coaches want.”
The 49ers still have a lot of needs to address in the draft, but they have plenty of time in the later rounds to do so. All three of the team’s picks so far (including Arik Armstead in the first round) have immense potential. If they live up to that potential, this draft will be a home run. If not, Jim Tomsula’s first draft as the 49ers’ head coach will go down as a major flop.