49ers draft plan: Insider believes San Francisco could target safety early

The San Francisco 49ers enter the 2026 NFL Draft without a clear consensus on how they'll use their top selections. Recent mock drafts have linked the team to offensive linemen, defensive linemen, and wide receivers, highlighting the roster's multiple needs.

However, the secondary remains an area to watch—and one insider believes it could be addressed as early as the first two rounds.

"I wouldn't be shocked if they go safety," Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area said on the 49ers Talk podcast. "I think that's an area where they feel like there's a lot of room to improve."

H/t to Oliver G of Niners Wire for the find.

The 49ers are expected to address the secondary with at least one of their six total selections. They have invested in the safety position in each of the last three drafts, selecting Ji'Ayir Brown in the third round of the 2023 draft, Malik Mustapha in the fourth round of the 2024 draft, and Marques Sigle in the fifth round last year.

While the team remains high on Mustapha, Maiocco indicated there's a desire for increased production from the position. Additionally, Brown is entering the final year of his rookie contract.

"I just feel like the 49ers believe that there's more out there, that they can make more plays at safety," Maiocco said. "They can get their hands on the football more. They can generate more takeaways. So, it wouldn't shock me if they used one of their first two picks to try to improve that safety position."

Maiocco also pointed to last season's uncertainty at the position.

"Marques Sigle was a Week 1 starter last year as a rookie," Maiocco said. "He won the starting job coming out of training camp over Ji'Ayir Brown. But they never really figured out who their starting safeties were, other than Mustapha."

Although most mock drafts haven't projected a safety to San Francisco in the early rounds, it wouldn't be shocking if the team made an early move to bolster the defensive backfield.