B/R places big responsibility on Talanoa Hufanga amid ACL injury recovery

The San Francisco 49ers' defense with Talanoa Hufanga is one of the best units in the entire league. While they are still quite effective without Hufanga on the field, there is a fairly noticeable difference in quality when he is removed from the equation.

San Francisco's defense started to gradually fall off toward the end of the season, which coincided with Hufanga's ACL injury. Just three years removed from being a late fifth-round pick, Hufanga remains the best defensive back on this roster and one of the unquestioned leaders on the team.

Hufanga's performance will be under a microscope this season, as he may start the season off slowly as he works his way back from his ACL tear. Bleacher Report is placing a great deal of emphasis on Hufanga's play this season, implying the fate of a very in-flux 49ers defense could be determined by just how healthy No. 29 is.

B/R listed Hufanga as their biggest X-factor for San Francisco this season, highlighting the improvements he made in coverage over the last few years and the impact he makes when he is on the field. B/R also wondered if the 49ers would have won the Super Bowl had Hufanga played against Patrick Mahomes.

B/R calls Talanoa Hufanga biggest X-Factor for 2024 49ers

Hufanga has intercepted seven passes over the last two seasons. Considering that he came out of USC with a reputation for being a high-energy hitter, the fact that he's been able to keep his style of play intact while improving as a pure defensive back has been a refreshing sight for Kyle Shanahan.

After giving up more than 20 points just three times in the 10 games Hufanga played last season, the defense surrendered at least 20 six times in the 10 games without him, including all three postseason games. It is quite rare for one safety on his rookie contract to have that level of impact on proceedings.

Hufanga will be replaced by a combination of veteran Tracy Walker and rookie Malik Mustapha as second-year player Ji'Ayir Brown starts alongside them as the free safety. While neither of them are anywhere close to Hufanga, new defensive coordinator Brandon Staley will try his best to pump both of them up.

The 49ers have enough depth to hold on without Hufanga, and the addition of Staley in a role he's comfortable with should be enough to give this defense a boost. However, if they want to compete for a championship, they need their star safety back and healthy.

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