2021 was a tough year for 49ers safety Tarvarius Moore. A third-round pick in the 2018 draft, Moore served primarily as a rotational defender and special teams contributor during his first two years in the league, but he appeared in a career-high 52% of the Niners’ defensive snaps in 2020. He had a real chance to win a starting safety job last summer, which would have been especially fortuitous timing, as he was set to enter his contract year. Unfortunately, he suffered a torn Achilles in June and spent all season on the PUP list.
And, per the terms of the collective bargaining agreement, Moore’s contract tolled, so he is under club control through 2022, as Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area observes (via Twitter). The pertinent provision of the CBA reads, “[A player’s] contract will not be tolled for the period he is on PUP, except in the last year of his contract, when the player’s contract will be tolled if (i) he is still physically unable to perform his football services as of the sixth regular season game; and (ii) he is not reinstated to the Club’s Active/Inactive List during that regular season or postseason.”
Of course, that’s not necessarily a bad thing for Moore. If he were to hit the open market in March after having spent the entirety of last season on the shelf, it’s not as though he would be in line to make any more than the $965K he will earn from San Francisco in 2022. And, if the 49ers do not re-sign Jaquiski Tartt, Matt Barrows of The Athletic (subscription required) expects Moore to be the front-runner for the starting SS gig. Barrows adds that Moore is fully recovered from his Achilles tear.
In 48 games (13 starts), the Southern Miss product has compiled 100 tackles, six passes defensed, and two forced fumbles.
Moore is a guy who has all the athletic abilities one would want from safety and has good range but he’s never really put it all together. He has shown some flashes but I’m not sure how confident I would be in him starting after safety next year especially him coming off an Achilles tear.
I wouldn’t mind Moore in a rotation with Hufanga, and both combined could make a solid duo..However, idk, it would probably be better for them to sign a real replacement for Tartt or Tartt himself.
This way, they can use Moore, Ward, and Hufanga in a variety of roles to he’s utilize their strengths and the versatility each player offers. Plus, it would allow Ryans the chance to move Ward around more, especially if he sees a particular matchup he wants Ward to take on…
Overall, like I said, already having one established safety would give Ryans more confidence in playing that guy with Hufanga or Moore, and letting Ward do his thing..
49ers have alot of work to do in the secondary, but honestly I’m really hoping they can get Cine in the 3rd Round.
They really like Slot CB Petri out of Baylor, but unless they are able to get a 2nd Rounder for Jimmy G, he’ll likely he gone by their 3rs Round pick..
If they could get Petri and Cine, alongside Abry Thomas from last year, and with Ward serving as the veteran their backend would be setup for the longhaul and the future with a great mixture of versatility, size, speed, and ball skills..