When the San Francisco 49ers drafted USC safety Talanoa Hufanga in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft, general manager John Lynch & Co. hoped he'd be able to add some depth to the secondary.
When the San Francisco 49ers drafted USC safety Talanoa Hufanga in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft, general manager John Lynch & Co. hoped he'd be able to add some depth to the secondary.
When Hufanga made the Pro Bowl and was named First-Team All-Pro in his second season, the front office was ecstatic.
But since then, the former Trojan has suffered injuries that have limited his time on the field to just 17 games across two seasons.
Hufanga's rookie deal is done this offseason and he becomes a free agent, able to sign with any team. Will the 49ers give up on him due to his injury history or will they take a chance on extending/re-signing him?
Bleacher Report thinks the team might keep him on a one-year "prove it" deal.
When healthy, Hufanga plays at a Pro Bowl/All-Pro level. He proved that in 2022, registering 97 tackles, five for loss, nine pass breakups, four interceptions and two sacks. However, Hufanga has missed 17 games over the previous two seasons. Because of his recent injury history, teams may be hesitant to sign him to a multiyear contract, which could increase the probability of San Francisco re-signing him on a prove-it deal.
