Ji’Ayir Brown enters 49ers training camp with very little margin for error.
The San Francisco safety, the team’s top pick from its much-maligned 2023 NFL Draft class, has had enough bright moments to keep the conversation alive. He flashed in a multi-interception game against the Carolina Panthers last year, and there was a stretch when it looked like he might be settling in. But the inconsistency has kept dragging him back, including a late-season benching the year before.
That’s why it already feels likely the 49ers won’t re-sign or extend Brown when his rookie deal runs out after the 2026 season. Depending on how camp and the preseason go, he may not even make it that far.
The timing isn’t ideal for Brown, either. San Francisco has a new defensive coordinator in Raheem Morris, a coach with a long track record working with defensive backs.
Brown actually performed better under the last 49ers coordinator with that kind of background, Steve Wilks, so there is at least a path here for Morris to help him steady things. But there’s no guarantee Morris will be sold on what Brown brings.
And Brown didn’t exactly make a strong case in 2025. The 49ers were hoping his third season would bring a clear step forward, but instead he posted a career-worst 102.4 passer rating allowed when targeted and gave up four touchdowns.
The depth chart behind him doesn’t scream safety net, but it does create pressure. San Francisco added undrafted rookie Jalen Stroman and veteran Ashtyn Davis, a six-year player with 34 starts, to the mix this offseason. Davis could be Morris’ preferred option to start next to Malik Mustapha.
If Brown struggles through camp or the preseason, that could be enough to push him toward the chopping block before Week 1. And if the league’s roster cuts produce a more appealing option, the 49ers could decide to move on.
There is still a path for Brown to stick. If Morris can unlock more consistency, Brown could win the starting job and keep his spot safe through 2026.
But beyond that? Probably not.
In Other News...
49ers Suddenly Face A Brutal Question About One Young Running Back
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The bigger concern now is what comes next, because the projection has the 49ers carrying a different mix in the backfield and treating Guerendo as the odd man out. Between his injury last season and the rise of Jordan James, the path back onto the roster has gotten much narrower, and for a young player who seemed to have momentum not long ago, that is a sharp turn in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
49ers May Have Found Unexpected Help For A Major Defensive Need
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One of the more interesting additions is former Illinois tackle James Thompson Jr., whose calling card is stopping the run and who now gets a real shot to push for a place in training camp. The path is still narrow, though, because he will need to show more as an interior pass rusher if he wants to turn that opening into a spot on the 53-man roster. [Read more 🡒]
George Kittle Just Added More Tension To The 49ers Aiyuk Drama
Brandon Aiyuks social-media frustration with the 49ers has been lingering in the background for a while, and George Kittle did little to cool it off when he was asked about the situation. Kittle backed the organizations handling of the matter and framed the whole thing as part of the messy reality of contract talks, which is hardly a surprise in a league where even productive players can find themselves stuck in a prolonged standoff.
The uncomfortable part for San Francisco is how much this saga circles back to timing. The 49ers had earlier chances to lock Aiyuk in at a lower price before the market moved, and now the discussion is less about whether the relationship has been strained than how much farther it can stretch. Aiyuks latest post about Christian McCaffrey only added another layer to a situation that already feels like it is waiting for the next public reaction. [Read more 🡒]