49ers Draft Capsule: Safeties

They need to draft a free safety to form a long-term duo with Talanoa Hufanga.

Safety. Never a consensus. “The team’s biggest need.” “If they draft a safety with one of their first three picks I’m gonna be pissed.” History lesson. Mike McGlinchey selected 9^th by the 49ers in the 2018 draft followed by All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and All-Pro safety Derwin James. Oops.

“Oh, we don’t need a safety.” 2021 Jacquiski Tartt drops a pop fly in the NFC Championship. 2022 the Niners add ball skills in the secondary and they go from last in the NFL in turnovers to tied for first.

Tashaun Gipson has returned for a final season. The depth behind him is not starter quality. Jimmie Ward is gone. They need to draft a free safety to form a long-term duo with Talanoa Hufanga.

Tier 1: Top 90
1^st Round Brian Branch (Alabama) 6-0/190
Top 75 Antonio Johnson (Texas A&M) 6-2/198
Top 75 Sydney Brown (Illinois) 5-11/211
Top 100 Jordan Battle (Alabama) 6-1/209
Top 100 Jartavius Martin (Illinois) 5-11/194

Tier 2: At the 49ers 3rd Round Picks
Top 100 Jammie Robinson (Florida State) 5-11/191
Early 4th Ji’Ayir Brown (Penn State) 5-11/203
Early-to-Mid 4^th Daniel Scott (Cal) 6-1/208
4^th Round Ronnie Hickman (Ohio State) 6-1/209
4^th Round Christopher Smith (Georgia) 5-10/192

Top 100 Jammie Robinson (Florida State) 5-11/191 – More quick than fast, center fielder, hitter, tackler, plays above his size. 5-11 with short arms, wingspan and small hands. 4.59/1.58 speed. 1 PBU 3 INT.

Early 4th Ji’Ayir Brown (Penn State) 5-11/203 – Competitive greatness, playing your best when it matters most, Rose Bowl Defensive MVP with eight tackles, 1.5 sacks and a pick. Ten interceptions in two years. Penn State’s leading tackler, solid blitzer, hitter. 4.58 speed, 18 bench reps, 35.5 vertical. 1 PBU 4 INT.

Early 4th Daniel Scott (Cal) 6-1/208 – A gold glove center fielder, 4.45/1.55 speed and a 39.5 vert with the ball skills for three picks and 4 PBUs this year, and six interceptions in two years. Can cover man up in the slot, on tight ends, and running backs. Lacks physicality and he has trouble shedding blocks.

Hickman is a physical box safety with mediocre ball skills, not a fit. Smith plays for the hit but he’s undersized, leading to a high missed tackle rate.

Tier 3: Mid 4th-5th Round
Mid-to-Late 4^th J.L. Skinner (Boise State) 6-4/209
Late 4^th-Early 5^th Marte Mapu (Sac State) 6-2/217
5^th Anthony Johnson Jr. (Iowa State) 6-0/198
5^th Jason Taylor II (Oklahoma State) 6-0/204
5^th Brandon Joseph (Notre Dame) 6-0/198
5^th Quindell Johnson (Memphis) 6-0/201

Skinner has been forgotten while he’s been down with a torn pectoral muscle and may fall. He has ball skills and length but lacks the fluidity for free safety and is best used in the box.

The Niners have met with Mapu and may be looking at him at linebacker. He has great ball skills with six picks and 12 PBUs in two years and has excellent cover skills. He needs to play in space and is weak at taking on blockers in the run game.

Iowa State’s Anthony Johnson is strictly a box safety.

Taylor is worth a long look as a ball hawking safety with six picks and seven passes defensed. 4.5 speed and a 43 vertical. He gave up 3 TDs and a 54.9% catch rate.

Joseph has fluid hips and great range. Nine interceptions career and this year just one TD and 80 yards passing against in seven games. He has multi-position versatility as box or free safety and can play DB.

Quindell Johnson has great ball skills but lacks speed and explosion.

Tier 4: 6th-7th Round
7th Round Jordan Howden (Minnesota) 6-0/203 – The Niners met with him recently, he has elite athleticism with 4.49/1.55 speed and a 39.5 vertical. He had 2 INT and 5 PBUs and is a sure tackler.

Prediction

The Niners met with Ji’Ayir Brown at the Combine and had him in for a 30 visit. He fits the need as a ball hawk that can tackle and blitz, and a great competitor with a high football iq.

Scott and Robinson would also fit the role. Taylor could be a diamond in the rough and Joseph has the versatility Steve Wilks values.

If targets go before they pick, the Niners could look to Howden as a safety net, quality skills and from a program with solid coaching in the secondary.