The 49ers have an impressive track record of rookies delivering important contributions to their success. Though at this point it appears unlikely he will be a starter, safety Ji'Ayir Brown looks a strong bet to continue that trend.

Brown was the 49ers' top selection in the 2023 draft, but he does not have the burden of expectation given he was not selected until the third round, San Francisco having dealt its first and second-round picks in the Trey Lance and Christian McCaffrey trades.

Behind All-Pro Talanoa Hufanga and veteran Tashaun Gipson on the depth chart, Brown theoretically has some time to develop more gradually as he adapts to the speed of the game at the highest level.

But Brown has shown little willingness for waiting, receiving praise from wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, per SI.com, for his playmaking abilities during OTAs.

And, as the 49ers reported for training camp on Tuesday, Hufanga had more plaudits for the former Penn State star, saying of Brown:

"First off, tremendous guy, just in the locker room. I think his presence — I'm still I think I'm even younger than him. So it's kind of weird, like, trying to talk to him, but a guy that comes in just kind of with his mentality, his maturity, really right there where it needs to be… That's why you bring a guy like him into our locker room."

Having the correct mindset is critical for a young player hoping to make a swift impact for a team gunning to finally get over the top after three NFC Championship Game appearances, and one agonizing Super Bowl loss, in the last four years.

Hufanga hailed another aspect of Brown's game that should greatly aid his ability to play impactful snaps early on.

"He's on point with his stuff, his communication. He's learning really quick. And I think, like I said, when it comes back to the maturity, it's his confidence on the field, and I think that plays a big role. If you go out there and you're timid, you're not going to make the plays that you want to make. And so watching a guy like (Ji'Ayir) he really is falling into that role perfectly. So he's going to make his plays for sure. It's about trying to strike the right balance between being a playmaker back there and sort of protecting, keeping up big plays."

Being confident and communicating strongly are musts for any player operating in the back seven of the San Francisco defense. The coordinator may have switched from now Texans coach DeMeco Ryans to Steve Wilks, but wholesale changes are unlikely, meaning it will still be a zone-heavy defense that relies heavily on late rotations from the safeties.

All the noises to this point suggest Brown will have little difficulty slotting into the defense and handling the responsibilities that come with playing in the secondary for the Niners.

After a college career that saw him record 10 interceptions, Brown has made a quick impression as a potential playmaker in his short time with the 49ers. San Francisco is unlikely to take Hufanga off the field very often, but if Brown's production in practice carries right through to the regular season, the heir apparent to Gipson at free safety could soon be eating into the veteran's snaps in year one.

49ers get familiarity and experience with Terrance Mitchell signing

Mitchell has experience of playing for Steve Wilks.

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