San Francisco, CA – May 27, 2025
When the San Francisco 49ers lost Malik Mustapha to a second ACL tear in the final week of the 2024 season, it was a gut punch. Not only was the second-year safety one of the brightest young talents on the roster, but his presence had quietly become foundational to a secondary already navigating change. Now, with Mustapha set to miss the opening stretch of 2025, the 49ers are facing a harsh truth: there’s a serious depth problem at the safety position.
The presumptive stopgap is Ji’Ayir Brown, a player who once looked like a long-term answer. After flashing potential as a rookie in 2023 — including a headline-grabbing interception of Patrick Mahomes in the Super Bowl — Brown regressed badly last season. His play was so inconsistent that he was benched in favor of Talanoa Hufanga, who has since departed for Denver. Brown’s confidence, and more importantly his reliability, will be under the microscope from day one.
“He’s got talent,” one NFC scout noted, “but his eyes betray him. Too many missed reads, too many late reactions. The league caught up to him in 2024.”
Behind Brown, things don’t look much steadier. The front office added veterans Jason Pinnock and Richie Grant on one-year deals — both with starting experience, both coming off forgettable seasons. Grant lost his starting job in Atlanta last year, while Pinnock had moments with the Giants but never quite cemented himself as a dependable back-end anchor.
Perhaps more telling is who made those signings. New defensive coordinator Robert Saleh — returning to the Bay Area after his stint as Jets head coach — had no hand in drafting Brown, but was directly involved in bringing in both Pinnock and Grant. That subtle front-office shift may signal a re-evaluation of loyalties and schemes within the defensive room.
“Saleh likes versatility, but more than that, he likes control,” said a team insider. “If he’s signing these guys, he’s planning to use them.”
No matter who gets the nod in Week 1, the position remains one of the weakest on the roster. Mustapha’s eventual return will help, but ACL recoveries — especially repeat ones — are notoriously tricky, and it’s unlikely the staff will rush him.
Until then, the 49ers are left hoping that someone — anyone — emerges to stabilize the back end of their defense. If not, what was once an elite unit may find itself suddenly vulnerable in 2025.
