The 49ers have signed safety Jaquiski Tartt to a two-year extension, the team announced Friday morning.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that the deal is worth $13 million, with the potential of $15 million, through the 2020 season. The deal had been in the works since February, Tartt said Friday afternoon.
Tartt has played all three career seasons with the 49ers. He was well on his way to a breakout year in 2017, starting every game, but he suffered a broken arm in Week 9 that ended his season. He found a groove at the strong safety position, where he figures to start for the next two years under defensive coordinator Robert Saleh.
“Being able to use my instincts to find the ball, I enjoy that,” Tartt said. “I usually have a knack for what is coming from the offense.”
Tartt was San Francisco’s second-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. In nine games last year, he produced 54 tackles, one interception, and three passes defended.
“We believe (Tartt) is a natural fit in our defensive system, and his abilities will allow him to flourish,” general manager John Lynch said in a statement.
The 49ers foresee Tartt playing alongside hard-hitting Adrian Colbert, who will return for his second season in 2018, through the 2020 season, the final year in both of their contracts. Jimmie Ward is entering the final year of his deal in 2018. He is slotted as a starting cornerback until Richard Sherman returns from an Achilles injury.
Tartt said he has been working on his footwork throughout the offseason. He has tried to fix a recurring issue, where sometimes his feet cross over each other as he approaches the ballcarrier.
“Overall, (I am) just learning the defense, as far as what teams like to do against us, and being prepared for it,” Tartt said.
He attributed the 2017 turnaround to Jimmy Garoppolo’s arrival, while Tartt was sidelined for the five-game winning streak to close the season.
“Jimmy G coming in playing well, and everybody just started playing better for some reason,” Tartt said. “I wanted to be a part of that.”