An Honest Assessment of the 49ers Secondary

Let's take stock of the 49ers starting secondary player by player.

The 49ers could have a brand-new secondary next year.

Four of the five starters in the defensive backfield will be free agents in 2025 and the 49ers don't seem particularly eager to extend any of their contracts just yet. Maybe some of them will get extensions during the season or afterward, and maybe they won't.

Let's take stock of the 49ers starting secondary player by player.

Cornerback Charvarius Ward

He set career highs last season with 23 pass breakups and five interceptions. He was just outstanding, which is why he went to the Pro Bowl for the first time. He even shadowed opposing teams no. 1 receiver during the second half of the season. But Ward will be 28 next season, and he's coming off a serious core muscle surgery. When it's time for the 49ers to extend his contract, he'll be 29 and his best days will be behind him. So I doubt they'll extend him.

Cornerback Deommodore Lenoir

He had a breakout season with 10 pass breakups and three interceptions while playing every game and lining up in the slot and outside. He's one of the best no. 2 cornerbacks in the NFL and he's only 24, which means he could become a no. 1 some day. Like Ward, Lenoir will be a free agent in 2025, right when he'll be entering his prime. If the 49ers don't extend his contract soon, he could price himself off the team.

Corberback Isaac Yiadom

The 49ers signed him this offseason to be their no. 3 cornerback in the nickel defense because he played well last season for the Saints. He played 515 snaps and gave up a passer rating of 83.9 when targeted. The previous season, he played special teams only. Why did it take him so long to have a decent season, and can he repeat it? The 49ers clearly aren't sure, because they gave him just a one-year contract.

Safety Talanoa Hufanga

He was an All Pro in 2022, but then he tore his ACL in 2023, and now it's unclear if he'll be fast enough to play safety when he returns. He wasn't particularly fast before his knee injury -- he relied on his instincts to break early on the ball. Will he have to take more risks now, or will he make a full recovery? And if he returns to his All Pro form, will the 49ers be able to re-sign him next year? Probably not.

Safety Ji'Ayir Brown

The only player in the secondary who won't be a free agent next year, Brown also might be the best player in the secondary. He's the only one who intercepted Patrick Mahomes in the Super Bowl. His stock is way, way up.