Ji’Ayir Brown appeared set to develop into a critical piece of the 49ers’ defense following an encouraging rookie season for the 2023 third-round pick.
Brown excelled after being inserted into the lineup following the season-ending knee injury suffered by Talanoa Hufanga, and displayed instincts and athleticism on his third-quarter interception of Patrick Mahomes in the Super Bowl.
Yet the step forward most anticipated after his performances across seven starts in the regular season and postseason as a rookie did not materialise.
Indeed, Brown was in and out of the lineup following Hufanga’s return, with his performances in marked contrast to those of Malik Mustapha as their fourth-rounder shone as a rookie.