San Francisco 49ers: 4 reasons the team will win the NFC West
3. Tarvarius Moore becomes a star
Tarvarius Moore was the 49ers third-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. After playing safety at the University of Southern Mississippi, the coaching staff decided to convert him to cornerback. At 6-foot-2, Moore had the length and the elite athleticism (4.32 40-yard dash) that coaches dream of.
He had some positive flashes in his rookie season but didn’t show the staff enough to keep him at corner. Now back at his natural position, Moore has impressed in training camp and has quickly surged up the depth chart to the first string.
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Moore’s combination of size and speed give him the potential to be an elite free safety. It’s been a long time since the 49ers had someone like that.
Prior to Saleh’s introduction of a Seattle Seahawks style 4-3 defense, the team’s defense tended to have two strong safeties that would share deep responsibilities.
Coming from the Seattle scheme tree, Earl Thomas quickly comes to mind as an ideal outcome for Moore. Regardless of what it looks like, it’s clear Moore has the tools to be an All-Pro caliber player.
Safety remains one of the biggest questions on the roster and the secondary in general is filled with unknowns. If Moore begins consistently tapping into his tools, that star-studded pash rush will help generate him a number of big-play opportunities.