49ers roster 2024: Malik Mustapha generating plenty of hype (is it warranted?)

Rookie Malik Mustapha seems poised to become a 49ers star, but it's important to remember one vital thing heading into 2024.

The San Francisco 49ers have had plenty of luck identifying, selecting and subsequently developing plenty of late-round prospects via the NFL Draft over the years.

They hope one of their most recent investments, former Wake Forest defensive back Malik Mustapha, is next in line.

Selected in Round 4 at No. 124 overall, the 5-foot-10 and 197-pound defender made a solid impression over his three collegiate seasons with the Demon Deacons, tallying 175 total tackles, 15 of which were for a loss, four sacks and three interceptions.

Given some pending shakeups within the Niners secondary over the next couple of years, Mustapha might end up being an integral part of the team's future plans.

Understandably, as is the case with many a drafted rookie, Mustapha has generated plenty of hype from the fanbase. Perhaps it's because he grew up a San Francisco fan.

Or, possibly, it's because of a somewhat viral social media post that showed an absolutely ripped Mustapha going through offseason on-field workouts:

On top of that, the context is there for Mustapha to emerge as a key member of the 49ers defense.

However, it's important to cite one crucial aspect of his budding career.

Malik Mustapha is poised for success with 49ers, but...

The Niners already saw notable changes at safety this offseason, bidding farewell to veteran free safety Tashaun Gipson in free agency. Additionally, strong safety Talanoa Hufanga is working his way back from a torn ACL suffered last season, and he might not even be ready in time for Week 1.

That essentially leaves special teams ace George Odum and second-year pro Ji'Ayir Brown as the two logical starters to begin the season.

Hufanga, too, is entering a contract year. Given San Francisco's current salary cap restraints, it's feasible Hufanga walks in 2025, opening the door for someone like Mustapha to assert himself as a starter.

Sounds promising.

That said, Mustapha is still very much a rookie and has done nothing at the pro level to justify such a claim. Some scouting reports cite his underdeveloped coverage skills as a potential problem, and it's not hard to look at his size and wonder if he can hold up to the rigors of being a full-time player against bigger, faster and stronger competition.

For now, it's OK to be optimistic. But there's an equally probable chance that the rookie winds up being little more than just a modest player who can't quite cut it as a full-time starter and is best suited as a reservist for his 49ers tenure.

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