Are the 49ers Looking for a Starting Safety?

When the offseason began, most analysts expected that the 49ers starting safeties for 2024 would be Ji'Ayir Brown and Talanoa Hufanga.

But Mike Silver recently reported that Talanoa Hufanga, who's coming off a torn ACL and has not been assured of a starting job for next season. In addition, free safety Rayshawn Jenkins met with the 49ers during free agency before ultimately signing with the Seahawks.

So are the 49ers in the market for a starting safety?

It seems they have questions or misgivings about Hufanga's future after tearing his ACL. He wasn't exactly fast before the injury, and now his lack of speed could be an even bigger issue. In addition, Hufanga could become extremely expensive next season when he's a free agent because he was an All Pro in 2022. Some team might really like him and pay him lots of money.

So don't be surprised if the 49ers spend one of their top draft picks on a safety this year. They currently have only three who definitely will make the 53-man roster -- Hufanga, Brown and George Odum. They certainly need a fourth. They could draft one and sit him for a year, then make him a starter when Hufanga leaves in free agency next year.

Or the 49ers could draft an immediate starter at safety and trade Hufanga once he fully recovers from his ACL injury.

Either way, it appears that safety has become one of the 49ers' biggest remaining needs, simply because they have just two healthy players at the position.