5 biggest takeaways from 49ers' efforts in 2024 NFL Draft
By Peter Panacy
Takeaway No. 2: Brandon Staley influenced 49ers' NFL Draft class
He's not the defensive coordinator. But assistant head coach Brandon Staley had a notable impact on the choices the 49ers made on defense during the draft.
The Niners' top two defensive selections, cornerback Renardo Green and safety Malik Mustapha, are both Staley-like defenders. Green, who cut his teeth at Florida State by being a disruptive man-coverage corner, suggests San Francisco might gradually shift away from a predominantly zone-coverage system.
That's a Staley influence.
Additionally, Mustapha is a solid down-in-the-box defensive back who'll likely be attacking interior gaps from the second level of the defense, another staple of what Staley likes to do on that side of the ball.
Both Green and Mustapha likely play bigger roles in 2025 while serving as backups this season.
But it's clear that Staley is envisioning a long-term impact from the 49ers' top-two defenders taken off the board.