San Francisco 49ers trade up, select Ji'Ayir Brown in 3rd round of 2023 NFL Draft

The San Francisco 49ers have selected Penn State safety Ji’Ayir Brown with the No. 87 overall pick in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft. They traded up with the Minnesota Vikings to get him.

After playing as a backup in nine games in 2020, Brown spent the last two seasons as a starter at the safety position, emerging as an impact player and takeaway machine on the back end for the Nittany Lions.

Brown had 73 tackles, six interceptions, five pass breakups, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble in 2021. His six interceptions was tied for No. 1 in the country. Last season, Brown notched 74 tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, four interceptions, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.

He was named to the All-Big Ten third team as both a senior and super senior. In 2022, he was named the team MVP and Defensive MVP of the Rose Bowl.

Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin had high praise for Brown during the season, highlighting Brown as one of the best leaders inside the program.

“I don’t think he’s getting enough attention,” Franklin said in November. “I don’t think enough people are talking about him when it comes to college football awards, when it comes to the NFL. His name should be all over the place. He plays his tail off. He makes his teammates better, he’s able to impact the game both in the run game and in the pass game. He’s a very well-rounded football player, and he’s been a phenomenal leader for us.”

For the first two years of his college career, Brown attended Lackawanna Community College in Scranton, Pa. He was the Northeast Football Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year and NJCAA All-America first team honoree as a sophomore in 2019.

Brown attended Trenton (N.J.) Trenton Central as a high schooler before heading off to Lackawanna Community College. He was a two-time team captain at the high school and earned first-team all-state honors as a senior.

On the basketball court, Brown was a four-year starter and averaged 6.8 steals per game as a senior. Takeaways, where on the gridiron or the hardwood, have always seem to be a part of his game.

What NFL draft analysts are saying about Ji’Ayir Brown

NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein said Brown will bring energy and leadership to the locker room and compared him to former safety Ryan Clark.

“Versatile defensive back who has shown the ability to line up over the slot, play as a down safety and patrol the outfield as a Cover 1 safety ready to read and range,” Zierlein wrote in his scouting report. “The lack of speed and explosiveness Brown showed at the NFL Scouting Combine won’t help his draft stock, but he’s a fiery run defender and plays with undeniable coverage instincts. He has an excellent motor that fuels him throughout the game, as well. He needs to play with a little more discipline or veteran quarterbacks and play-callers will bait him into mistakes. Brown’s versatility and football character could help him eventually become an NFL starter.”