DB Tarvarius Moore
There was some speculation going into the offseason that the 49ers could let Jimmie Ward go in free agency and stick Moore into the starting free safety role. San Francisco brought Ward back on a long-term deal, but health remains a big question mark for the safety who’s played only one 16-game season in his six-year career.
The starting job will be Ward’s as long as he’s on the field, but Moore is the clear-cut No. 1 option to replace him. Good free safety play is part of why the 49ers’ pass defense was so dominant a season ago. If Ward goes down and Moore is pushed into the starting job, there’ll be an expectation that the drop off isn’t steep. Whether Moore performs if called upon would be key in the 49ers’ staying on track if they’re without their starting free safety.