Niners Nation
The San Francisco 49ers shifted their vision to playing more younger pieces this season, electing to be quiet players in free agency and instead take 11 players in the 2025 NFL Draft.
One of those was fifth-round pick Marques Sigle, who was impressed early on and recently won the starting safety job over 2023 third-round pick Ji’Ayir Brown. It’s been a tough start to his career for Brown, who has dealt with inconsistent play and lost his job last year in favor of fourth-round pick Malik Mustapha.
With a big opportunity this offseason, Brown didn’t impress enough to earn the starting job, but the 49ers still wanted him on the field, playing him as a big nickel in Week 2.
How did Brown feel about his demotion and playing as a big nickel instead?
“I think most of my pro approach and humility to the situation, whatever you want to draw it up as, most of it is because I know who I am as a player. I know for sure I’m one of the best safeties in the league. Top 5 if anything, in the league,” Brown said, via the San Francisco Chronicle’s Eric Branch. “This has nothing to do with me moving from safety. This is just me being a football player and moving down to big nickel, is a showcase of my many talents.
“I also play the post (at safety) better than anyone in the league. I also do a lot of great things in the run game. This is just me being a versatile football player and showcasing my talents in many different ways. Y’all will see me back at safety again. This is not a permanent move for me. This is just how I can help the team out best. Just knowing I’m one of the premier safeties in this game. I will be back at safety, eventually. Whether it’s here or whether it’s wherever, I am a safety. I’m a safety that can do many things.”
Brown’s path to a starting role seems very murky this season, as he was already beaten out by Sigle and free agent signee Jason Pinnock. To make matters more complicated, Malik Mustapha is expected back near midseason and will likely occupy one of those starting spots, taking away playing time from Brown and the rest of the room.
Nonetheless, the safety is confident he’ll be a starter once again.
“[I’m confident] just knowing that I’m one of the premier safeties in this game,” Brown continued, via Branch. “I will be back at safety, eventually, whether it’s here or whether it’s wherever. I am a safety. I’m a safety that can do many things.”
“I would definitely love to be here, career-wise, for the rest of my career. But we all know this is a business. And I’m willing to adapt to whatever comes my way.”
With the logjam at safety, Brown is showing some of his versatility at big nickel, which could be his primary role as...
