When we last saw 49ers safety Talanoa Hufanga, he was taken off the field in Week 11’s victory over Tampa Bay with a torn ACL. He had been inconsistent at the beginning of the year after a great performance the previous year, and had just begun to improve. But he missed the remaining seven games and the 49ers’ postseason run, and was effectively replaced by third-round pick Ji’Ayir Brown.
Now, it seems that Hufanga might be without a job as he recovers. Not only does he have to compete with Brown, but the 49ers might also try to sign one of the talented star safeties on the market—if former Broncos star Justin Simmons is available at a reduced price, the 49ers might seize the opportunity.
Before anything else, Hufanga. According to well-connected San Francisco Chronicle writer Michael Silver, Hufanga could lose his starting position, and the 49ers might also look to add a cornerback.
As he wrote this week: “Safety Talanoa Hufanga, a 24-year-old who earned first-team All-Pro honors in 2022, is coming off a torn ACL and isn’t assured of reclaiming his starting job. The cornerback position is also in flux, with starter Deommodore Lenoir facing a possible move to the slot, depending upon whether the 49ers can find a suitable replacement in free agency or the draft.”
49ers Defensive Overhaul Could Include Talanoa Hufanga
The 49ers have made significant changes to what was a good defense last year, but not a great one. The unit seemed to lack an edge, the ability to make plays when needed. This was evident a few times in the regular season—the Bengals gained 400 yards in Week 8, and the Ravens scored 33 points on Christmas, and again when facing Patrick Mahomes in the Super Bowl.
Adding another veteran eager to win, like Simmons, could further enhance the defense’s development of that edge. The 49ers are not done with their changes.
“The roster adjustments won’t stop now that the first wave of free agency has ended,” Silver wrote. “With the safety market somewhat saturated, the Niners might be able to secure a prominent figure such as Justin Simmons (a four-time second-team All-Pro during his Denver career) or a less celebrated player such as the Commanders’ Kam Curl or the Colts’ Julian Blackmon.”
Justin Simmons a Veteran Star
Simmons still is a skilled player and a veteran leader. In other words, a good 49ers fit. Maybe the idea of him taking Hufanga’s position wouldn’t go over well with some in the locker room, but the 49ers are aiming to win a Super Bowl.
Simmons is 31 and his coverage stats declined a bit last year. He has earned four All-Pro second-team honors in the last five years and was twice named to the Pro Bowl, including in 2023. He has 30 career interceptions and led the league with six picks in 2022. Simmons has caused five fumbles in the past two years.
Simmons did allow a quarterback rating of 89.1 when targeted last year, which was the highest he’d allowed in four seasons. His coverage grade at Pro Football Focus was 63.4 in 2023, the lowest it had been since the 2018 season.
Simmons is also a very good run-stopper, though, and recorded a PFF rating of 77.6 in run defense.
Simmons had agreed to a four-year, $61 million contract with the Broncos in 2021, and was in the final year of that agreement when he was released. Spotrac estimates his value at $11.1 million annually and predicts he will receive a two-year, $22.2 million contract. However, considering the developments in free agency, there is a possibility he might accept less for a one-year deal.
