The San Francisco 49ers have a bit of a conundrum at safety, one that might reveal some answers with the start of mandatory minicamp this week.
Free-agent departures of established starters like Talanoa Hufanga and Tashaun Gipson were anticipated, yes, but the Niners were dealt a further blow to close out the 2024 regular season when then-rookie Malik Mustapha suffered a torn ACL in Week 18, news of which didn't come out until the middle of the 2025 NFL Draft.
So, with Mustapha likely sidelined until into the regular season, clear options aren't exactly on the table.
The matter is made even more complicated in light of San Francisco's recently drafted rookie, Marques Sigle, dealing with an injury. Plus, third-year pro Ji'Ayir Brown had an ankle procedure that's going to keep him out until training camp, according to head coach Kyle Shanahan.
That effectively leaves four bodies to take the field for minicamp at safety:
Richie Grant
Jaylen Mahoney
George Odum
Jason Pinnock
Grant and Pinnock, two offseason free-agent pickups, primarily contribute on special teams. This is also Odum's speciality, although the latter has been a fill-in starter for the 49ers on defense and figures to be the favorite to begin the mandatory sessions.
If anything, the rash of injuries to would-be starters benefits Mahoney, a second-year former undrafted free agent who spent the bulk of 2024 on the practice squad. Perhaps some added looks give him a better chance at cracking the 53-man roster.
Granted, there's no physical contact until the pads come on in camp, and Shanahan is on record saying the true competition doesn't begin until then.
However, it'll be interesting to watch which players wind up taking first- or even second-team reps at safety, as that'll give some pretty solid insight into a position battle that's more important than most would like to believe.
Especially with so many names out of the mix until later this summer.
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