The 49ers secondary will have a new look in 2022.
For years, former high school teammates Jaquiski Tartt and Jimmie Ward roamed the back as a safety tandem for San Francisco. Now Tartt is a free agent after being released by the Philadelphia Eagles on Aug. 29 and Ward will miss at least the first four games of the season due to a hamstring injury.
With the 49ers thin at safety, would Tartt consider coming back to the franchise? Bonta Hill and Steven Langford (filling in for Joe Shasky) of 95.7 The Game’s “The Morning Roast” asked Tartt during a Q&A on Thursday morning.
“I’ve talked to the coaches but it's been nothing official,” Tartt said. “As far as that situation, for the right price of course I’d be back. At the end of the day, if it's not for the right price, I’m definitely not going back. For me, what makes me put my body through a lot for the minimum is kinda like – I’ve made enough money, I’m very fortunate to be able play the game and be with the 49ers for seven years. Just the right situation for me and I’ll do, but if not, I’m good where I’m at."
So, it’s all about the size of the bag?
“Yes, sir,” Tartt said.
According to Over The Cap, the 49ers currently have $4.8 million in cap space. They currently have three safeties on the active roster while Ward is on the injured reserve – free safety George Odum, strong safety Talanoa Hufanga and reserve Tarvarius Moore. Practice squad safeties Tashaun Gipson and Tayler Hawkins could also be elevated on game days while Ward is out.
Having a veteran like Tartt, who logged 80 games and 64 starts in seven seasons with San Francisco, could be some nice insurance. Tartt signed for the veteran minimum ($1.12 million) with the Eagles and received $500,000 before getting cut, but it sounds like he wants to get paid a bit more than that.
“You gotta know your worth in this world,” Tartt said. “Without that, you’ll be out there lost.”
It sounds like Tartt may have had other opportunities as well beyond the 49ers but none of them appealed to him.
“Yeah, there’s calls,” Tartt said. “But, again, the right situation for me. That’s what it’s about.”
The 30-year-old said he feels like still has plenty in the tank.
“No doubt,” Tartt said. “At this point in my career, I think it’s more about the business side of football. There’s a lot of stuff out there about me not being able to perform at a high level, but it’s the business side. When you reach the business side, it’s all about opportunity. I assumed I would have an opportunity in Philadelphia, but from Day 1, that wasn’t what it was. At the end of the day, I’m all about chilling until the right situation occurs.”
Likewise, Tartt thinks the 49ers are in good shape with Hufanga set to succeed him and Moore backing up. He wasn’t surprised that he couldn’t consummate a deal to come back to San Francisco.
“No not really,” Tartt said. “They got young Huf there, T-Moore. They wanna get an opportunity, too and I think they deserve it. I think they’re where they’re at, too, as far as safeties. Those guys will pan out well for them.”
