Talanoa Hufanga could be pivotal for 49ers in pursuit of Super Bowl championship

Former USC football star Talanoa Hufanga hopes to be back on the field for the San Francisco 49ers at the start of the 2024 NFL season. If he is, and if he plays up to his expected standard, the Niners would essentially add a player who was unavailable for most of last season. They would essentially gain a high-quality puzzle piece on defense and take another step toward claiming a Super Bowl victory, which has eluded them since 1995. Hufanga could be the pivotal figure on the 49ers’ whole roster, not just their defense.

Niners Wire has more on Hufanga:

“There may not be a position on the 49ers’ roster with more variance than safety. On the surface they look set with starters and depth, but they may also need to bring in another starter by training camp. The answer to whether they should bring in another starting-caliber safety comes down to two factors.

“First is Talanoa Hufanga’s health. The strong safety tore his ACL in Week 11 and the team sounds confident he’ll be ready to play during training camp. However, it’s unclear at exactly what point he’ll be available to participate in camp. And when he does return there’s no guarantee he’ll be the All-Pro caliber player he was over the last couple seasons. If he’s healthy and contributing at a high level, San Francisco’s depth should be fine.

“If Hufanga is not ready to play, the second factor comes into play. Experience is in short supply on the 49ers’ roster at safety.”

You can see how big Talanoa Hufanga could become for the 49ers in 2024.

Visit our friends at Fighting Irish Wire, Buffaloes Wire, and Ducks Wire. Follow our newest sites, UW Huskies Wire and UCLA Wire.

Check out more NFL draft coverage with the USA TODAY Sports NFL Draft Hub.