clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Penn State S Jaquan Brisker is set to visit the 49ers Tuesday

The Niners would be fortunate for a player of Brisker’s caliber to fall to 61

NFL Combine Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport tweeted that the Niners will host Penn State safety Jaquan Brisker Tuesday. Last month, during the Nittany Lions Pro Day, general manager John Lynch and his right-hand man, Adam Peters, were present at Penn State’s Pro Day:

I’m not sure if I’m in the minority, but I’d go safety at No. 61. To me, that’s the Niners' biggest hole on the roster. A player like Brisker has the instincts needed to excel at safety in the NFL. He ran a 4.49 40-yard dash at 6’1”, 200 pounds, so his speed isn’t an issue.

He’d quickly become a fan favorite for his trash-talking:

Of course, being good at your job is the goal. Last season, Brisker split time between playing in deep alignments as well as in the box/slot. As we know, versatility is key for safeties in the Niners' defense. With that said, he lined up in the box more than any safety in the draft, and 8% more than the next safety, per Sports Info Solutions.

Brisker comes with all of the necessary intangibles such as leadership, instincts, as well as making plays all over the field. Some feel like he’s maxed out as a player. If he falls to No. 61, it’ll be due to durability issues. Brisker suffered a knee injury in 2020 and had to fight through a shoulder injury in 2021. So, while he hasn’t missed many games, he’s had to battle injuries during his career.

I mentioned Brisker’s playmaking; he averaged 0.5 tackles for loss last year. He has the size and strength to match up against tight ends and the speed to carry receivers down the seam in coverage.

Late in the second round, you’d be hard-pressed to find better value than Brisker, who would replace Jaquiski Tartt in the secondary and give the 49ers one of the better safety duos in the league once again.

This is a strong class for defensive backs. So, Brisker being ranked 10th speaks more about the position than it does him. If a team took him in the first round, I wouldn’t bat an eye. San Francisco would be fortunate to have a player like Brisker fall to them.

I wouldn’t rule out the team trading up, given their cap space and number of Day 3 picks, for a player they have rated highly in the second round.