The San Francisco 49ers definitely had a season to forget last year, going just 6-11 in spite of entering the campaign with what many felt was the best roster in the NFL.
Of course, a major reason for the 49ers' slide was injuries on both sides of the ball, so perhaps San Francisco could bounce back and return to being a legitimate Super Bowl contender in 2025.
That being said, the Niners still have some holes that need to be rectified, and one of the biggest concerns is at the safety position.
The 49ers lost Talanoa Hufanga to the Denver Broncos in free agency, leaving them without a true answer in the middle of their secondary. Ji'Ayir Brown and Malik Mustapha are currently penciled in as the two starters, but that could definitely change before Week 1.
Matt Barrows of The Athletic has revealed some bad news for Brown on that end, noting that the 25-year-old's stock has dipped this summer, particularly given a nagging ankle injury that plagued him during minicamp.
"This position has been yo-yoing since the spring, when [Marques] Sigle and Brown were injured and [Richie] Grant got all of the first-team snaps," Barrows wrote. "Lately, however, Sigle, a fifth-rounder out of Kansas State, has been healthy, and Brown (ankle) and Grant (knee) have been in and out of the lineup. ... The question is whether there's room at safety for three veterans - Brown, Grant and Jason Pinnock."
Is it possible that Brown, who played in every game and made 13 starts in 2024, could actually be on the chopping block heading into 2025?
The former third-round pick registered 77 tackles, an interception and six passes defended last season, posting a respectable 64.8 overall grade at Pro Football Focus. But it's not like Brown was a stalwart, and given how delicate things are in the Bay after such a rough campaign, head coach Kyle Shanahan may need to make a difficult decision here.
Brown appeared in 15 contests during his rookie year in 2023, finishing with 35 tackles, a couple of picks and four passes defended in a part-time role. He was impressive enough to earn more playing time last season, but he didn't exactly take full advantage of the opportunity.
We'll see if the 49ers ultimately decide to make a surprising move at the safety position before the season opener, whether that means parting ways with Brown or simply benching him in favor of another option.
San Francisco will open the season on the road against the Seattle Seahawks on Sept. 7.
For more on the 49ers and NFL, head to Newsweek Sports.
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