Several 49ers will be eligible for contract extensions this offseason. One of them will be Talanoa Hufanga, and he could be expensive.
Hufanga was an All Pro in 2022. You could argue that he shouldn't have been awarded this honor, that he gave up long touchdowns frequently in pass coverage and was recognized simply for intercepting four passes on the No. 1 defense, and there would be some truth to that. But he has an All Pro and his resume and will get paid handsomely as a result.
The top safeties in the NFL earn between $15 million and $20 million per season. That most likely is what Hufanga will command on the open market, even though he's having a down season and does not seem likely to receive his second All Pro selection.
The 49ers have shown they'll splurge at certain positions, such as quarterback, left tackle, running back, wide receiver, tight end, defensive end, defensive tackle, linebacker and cornerback. They have NOT shown that they will splurge on safety.
For a few seasons, they spent $10 million per season on Jimmie Ward, and that seemed like a stretch for the 49ers. They do not consider safety a premium position and do not want to spend a premium on those players. Which is weird, considering Hall of Fame safety John Lynch is the general manager.
It's possible the 49ers traded up to draft Ji'Ayir Brown this year just so they could have the option to trade Hufanga if he prices himself out of their budget. They probably could get a second-round pick for him, which would be nice, considering they drafted him in Round 5.
Keep an eye on Hufanga's trade market this offseason.
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