Niners Nation
The 49ers’ edge depth is in much better shape after the trade for Bryce Huff, but there’s reason for concern about the back half of the defense.
The 49ers’ trade for Bryce Huff addressed a lingering post-draft issue for San Francisco, one of a lack of quality depth at edge rusher.
With Huff joining Nick Bosa, rookie first-round pick Mykel Williams and a pair of versatile talents in Yetur Gross-Matos and Sam Okuayinonu, the 49ers can feel a lot better about their outside pass-rushing options.
But there are still some problems on the defensive side of the ball as the 49ers move through OTAs and towards mandatory minicamp.
The 49ers will eventually need to make a decision on what to do at nickel cornerback. They drafted Upton Stout in the third round, but turning to a rookie at such an important position in the modern NFL would be a risk and involve moving Deommdore Lenoir back to the role of outside corner full-time. The alternative would be to have free agent signing Tre Brown play outside corner on nickel downs with Lenoir staying inside.
San Francisco will likely be choosing between inexperienced linebackers to play the WILL spot next to Fred Warner in Dee Winters and rookie Nick Martin, but the clearest issue on defense with minicamp on the horizon concerns the position directly behind Warner.
Both the players projected to start at safety in 2025 — Ji’Ayir Brown and Malik Mustapha — are currently sidelined. Brown is set to be out until training camp after undergoing a procedure on his ankle, while Mustpaha seems set to miss the start of the season after tearing his ACL in last year’s season finale with the Arizona Cardinals.
With both Brown and Mustapha out, veterans Jason Pinnock and Richie Grant have received the starting reps in practices.
Both Pinnock and Grant have starting experience, with the former a favorite of 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh. They can each play in the slot in addition to operating as deep safeties, but neither’s recent exploits should inspire much confidence.
Indeed, Pinnock allowed a passer rating when targeted of 148.1 last season for the New York Giants, the fourth-highest among safeties with at least 100 coverage snaps. Grant started only one game in 2024, and his last full season as a starter in 2023 saw him surrender five touchdowns in coverage.
With special teamer George Odum, rookie Marques Sigle and former undrafted free agent Jaylen Mahoney the other options on the depth chart, there are reasons to be concerned about the potential makeup of the 49ers’ safety pairing for the start of the season with Mustapha out and Brown coming off a surgery.
There are still a host of veteran safeties available on the free agent market. The likes of Jordan Whitehead, Chuck Clark and Marcus Maye all have prior experience playing for Saleh, while Julian Blackmon visited with the 49ers last offseason.
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