The 49ers Found a Gem in Ji'Ayir Brown

For most teams, losing an All Pro safety would be a devastating blow. Not for the 49ers.

They lost Talanoa Hufanga to a torn ACL a few weeks ago, and he'll miss the rest of the season. Hufanga was a Pro Bowler and an All Pro last season, as he intercepted four passes and recorded two sacks -- he was a playmaker. And he still was this season before his knee injury, although his performance had fallen off a bit.

Pro Football Focus gave Hufanga a 70.5 grade this season, which is respectable. Last season, his PFF grade was 68.8. So the advanced analytics don't necessarily see him as an All Pro elite player. The advanced analytics see him as a serviceable player.

Conversely, Pro Football Focus loves Brown -- his PFF grade this season is a stellar 86.9. He currently is the third-highest-graded player on the 49ers defense behind Nick Bosa (93.1) and Fred Warner (90.6). Which means the 49ers defense is getting better as Brown gets more comfortable in his starting role.

As good as Hufanga is. and he certainly is a quality player, Brown is faster, more explosive, better in coverage and a harder hitter. He's just better. When he's playing free safety, he has range to get to the sideline and break up deep passes, as he showed Sunday against the Seahawks. Hufanga doesn't have that kind of range.

Next season, Brown and Hufanga should be the 49ers starting safeties, and they could play together for a decade.