What each 49ers 2021 draftee must do to make 2022 roster

Trey Lance #5 of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Trey Lance #5 of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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Talanoa Hufanga, San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers safety Talanoa Hufanga (29) Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports /

Round 5: 49ers S Talanoa Hufanga — stay healthy

In most cases, the likelihood of players making a 53-man roster decrease with every subsequent round. For the Niners, at least in this case, it’s more of a dip in the middle between two strong-chance ends.

San Francisco’s third of its Round 5 picks last year, USC’s Talanoa Hufanga, appears to be the favorite for earning the starting strong safety job in 2022, relieving now-Philadelphia Eagles veteran Jaquiski Tartt after the 49ers let him walk in free agency.

Hufanga, whose coverage skills and speed were surely questionable in 2021, nevertheless had that knack for big plays, emulating his collegiate impact, and his special teams touchdown in the NFC divisional-round playoff game against the Green Bay Packers already earned him a spot in franchise lore.

Whether or not the decision to let Tartt walk in favor of Hufanga was a good one will be a key focal point all season long, provided Hufanga retains the starting job.

Nevertheless, in light of Hufanga’s special teams prowess and the apparent “handing of the job” to him during offseason workouts so far, all he has to do is avoid the injury bug between now and Week 1 to hang around.