Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Breaking down Penn State S Ji’Ayir Brown to the 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers kicked off their 2023 NFL Draft with a trade-up, moving No. 102, No. 164, and No. 222 to the Minnesota Vikings for No. 87, where they selected Penn State safety
Ji'Ayir Brown.
San Francisco appeared to be eyeing safeties during the pre-draft process and pounced on Brown, who was the highest-rated defensive back on my board after Sydney Brown was selected at No. 66.
Brown didn't have the best athletic testing, running a 4.65 40-yard dash, but had a great 1.56 10-yard split, displaying his short-area quickness that is apparent on film.
However, Brown plays faster than his 40-time, and is a great fit for the 49ers, having seen experience in single-high coverages, showcasing his ability to man the backend, while also being an integral piece near the line of scrimmage who isn't afraid to hit hard at his 5'11, 203-pound frame.
Brown's coverage skills are arguably the best part about his skillset, headlined by 10 interceptions over the past two years, as he's very instinctive with his coverage abilities, and has seen time playing as a "big nickel" in addition to his safety experience.
Brown is a great fit within this 49ers defense, and could even contribute immediately in three-safety sets on base downs, where he and
Talanoa Hufanga can both work near the line of scrimmage and along the backend.
Brown's potential is filling that "eraser" role on the backend as a ball-hawking safety with good coverage skills, although he does need to improve a little more as a tackler.
In regards to fit, Brown also shares extensive experience as a blitzer, accumulating 15 pressures and 4.5 sacks on 51 pass-rushing snaps in 2022, according to PFF's Jeff Deeney.
Overall, trading up for Brown provides the 49ers with a potential future starter at the position after another season of
Tashaun Gipson, who can man the backend, while playing to the system's versatility and aggressiveness under Steve Wilks.
The opinions within this article are those of the writer and, while just as important, are not necessarily those of the site as a whole.
LISTEN
Facebook Comments
More San Francisco 49ers News
49ers could use rookie Ji'Ayir Brown in three-safety sets
The San Francisco 49ers know who their starting safeties will be in 2023. They are All-Pro Talanoa Hufanga and 12th-year veteran Tashaun Gipson. Gipson, who is 32 years old, reportedly flirted with the idea of retiring this offseason before returning to the Niners on a one-year deal.
The always forward-thinking 49ers used their first pick in April's draft, a third-rounder, to add a player they hope can be Gipson's eventual replacement—Ji'Ayir Brown out of Penn State.
Don't expect Brown to simply be an observer on the sidelines during his rookie season while Hufanga and Gipson do all the work. The 49ers plan to find ways to get him onto the football field and gain valuable experience. According to The Athletic, the coaches plan to utilize some three-safety
Podcast: 49ers OTAs Day 1 recap
By Rohan Chakravarthi
May 24
Rohan Chakravarthi and Jessie Naylor break down Day 1 of the San Francisco 49ers OTAs that was available to media.
The audio for the show is embedded above, while the video is available below.
You can listen to "The Rohan Chakravarthi Show" from our dedicated podcast page, on
Kyle Shanahan feels "really fortunate" with 49ers' QB room
Kyle Shanahan praises his quarterback room every year. Last season, the San Francisco 49ers went through three starting quarterbacks and still made it to the NFC Championship Game. Trey Lance was the Week 1 starter but suffered a season-ending ankle injury during his second game. Eleven weeks later, Jimmy Garoppolo sustained a broken foot.
That opened the door for rookie Brock Purdy to show his coaches and the NFL world that he belonged, despite being the last overall pick in the draft. Purdy guided the 49ers to eight consecutive wins before suffering a severe injury in that NFC title game matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Two of the quarterbacks from last season—Lance and Purdy—remain. Both are just 23 years old. They are joined by Sam
5 position battles to watch for during 49ers OTAs
By Rohan Chakravarthi
May 24
The San Francisco 49ers entered the offseason with several questions after key figures, such as Jimmie Ward, Mike McGlinchey, Samson Ebukam, and Charles Omenihu, departed in free agency, creating the possibility for position battles in organized team activities(OTAs) and training camp.
While several of the starting spots are solidified, there are still a few position battles to watch, as well as depth questions that could allow younger players to compete and take 53-man roster spots at the end of the offseason.
Let's break down some of those battles to watch and how they could play out for the 49ers, outside of the obvious competition at
