Are the San Francisco 49ers close to locking up a key member of their defense?
A star-studded defense has been a hallmark of this era of 49ers football under head coach Kyle Shanahan. San Francisco has boasted All-Pro talents at all three levels for most of the last half-decade, and that continues into the 2024 season.
The 49ers have already issued lucrative extensions to defensive end Nick Bosa, a former Defensive Player of the Year, and linebacker Fred Warner, who could win the award this year. But a third supremely talented defender is still waiting on his extension.
Fourth-year safety Talanoa Hufanga, who has been limited to two games this season due to injury, would hit free agency this spring if the 49ers do not extend him. One insider expects that to change at some point in the near future.
Dan Graziano of ESPN said recently that Hufanga was among the players "most likely" to receive contract extensions within the next two months.
"San Francisco 49ers safety Talanoa Hufanga is also a guy I'm watching, though he has had injury issues that could be holding that up," Graziano said. "He tore ligaments in his wrist in Week 5 and will be out a few weeks."
Hufanga, 25, has already proven himself as one of the best safeties in the league when healthy. He was a Pro Bowler and first-team All-Pro in 2022 and likely would have been again last season if he had remained on the field. But he tore his ACL, and the recovery leaked over into the start of 2024.
Hufanga has amassed 96 total points saved in his career, per Sports Info Solutions. That includes a total of 56 points saved during his All-Pro season, which led all safeties.
Hopefully, for the 49ers' sake, Hufanga can get back on the field quickly and earn his extension with his play. The 49ers certainly envision him as a cornerstone piece, but it becomes tougher to gauge his long-term value when he's missing chunks of time.
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