49ers Trade up to No. 87 Pick to Draft Safety Ji'Ayir Brown

The 49ers have officially made their first pick of the 2023 NFL draft.

Instead of waiting to pick at No. 99 at the end of the third-round, the 49ers traded pick No. 102, 164, and 222 to the Vikings for pick No. 87. With that trade up, the 49ers drafted Penn State safety Ji'Ayir Brown.

Taking a safety was a glaring need for the 49ers. They needed a player to grow beside Talanoa Hufanga. For 2023, Tashaun Gipson is just the filler, and given the low cost it took for the 49ers to re-sign, it is very possible that Brown can become a starter this season over Gipson.

Brown is an excellent selection for the 49ers as he presents immense versatility. He can play single high, drop down into the box to play as a robber in coverage, and even blitz efficiently. Defensive coordinator Steve Wilks is a blitz heavy coordinator, so he has to be giddy with joy that he has Brown in his ranks. Now the 49ers can dial up blitzes all over the play with Hufanga, Brown, Fred Warner, and the slot.

Brown spent three seasons at Penn State where he played in 35 games and started 25 of them at safety, earning Third-Team All-Big Ten in 2022. Over his last two seasons, Brown had 10 interceptions, which given how ball-hawking the 49ers were last year, has to have been another driving factor as to why Brown was on their radar.

Being surrounded by elite talent should only bring Brown up to standard as he has all the makings to be an incredible long-term starter for the 49ers.

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