At the end of his rookie year, which culminated in their heartbreaking loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl, it seemed as if safety Ji'Ayir Brown was poised to be an integral part of the San Francisco 49ers defense for years to come.
After all, Brown rose to prominence in the second half of that season, got a Super Bowl start and was looking at big things in years two and three.
They just didn't quite materialize, though.
Late in 2024, the third-round pick out of Penn State found himself benched in favor of other options. And while he regained a starter's job entering 2025, the results were mixed, at best. Aside from a Week 12 performance in which he logged two interceptions that helped him stand out for all the right reasons, Brown's questionable speed and coverage skills remained a focal point.
Plus, it's reasonable to believe both he and fellow safety Malik Mustapha are better suited for in-the-box duties, not high atop the secondary.
Yet the Niners didn't exactly spend assets during the offseason in an attempt to upgrade over Brown, and that effectively ensures him a roster spot entering 2026.
49ers seem to have more faith in Ji'Ayir Brown than most
Brown's two picks against the Carolina Panthers in Week 12 are contrasted by allowing a career-worst 102.4 passer rating when targeted, plus four touchdowns surrendered. And when he appeared to be beat, it certainly didn't look pretty.
But San Francisco didn't use its offseason assets to land an upgrade, neither in free agency, nor the NFL Draft. In fact, the only substantial addition was undrafted free-agent defensive back Jalen Stroman, who at this point, can't exactly be viewed as a direct threat to Brown's job, let alone his roster spot.
Plus, with veteran safety Jason Pinnock heading back to the New York Giants after his brief Bay Area tenure, the 49ers actually thinned out their safety depth chart, thereby helping Brown better solidify his duties on the roster.
Perhaps it's due to new defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, who has more of an eye on defensive backs than his predecessor, Robert Saleh, and it wouldn't be too big a shock if Morris quietly vouched for Brown as someone who could take a big leap under his tutelage.
Brown should be motivated enough anyway.
Entering a contract year, and as one of the few remaining players from the Niners' otherwise forgettable 2023 draft class, Brown's career can take one of two different trajectories: a hefty payday stemming from a solid showing in 2026, or a pedestrian C-level contract with some squad where his role is anything but clear.
For all parties involved, the former would be preferable.
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