MM #6

Malik Mustapha

Safety · Wake Forest

An undersized, downhill safety out of Wake Forest who fought back from a torn ACL to reclaim a starting job in San Francisco's secondary.

Malik Mustapha has built his NFL career on physicality that belies his size, a 5-foot-10 safety who plays like he is looking for contact. Drafted by the 49ers in 2024, he earned a starting role as a rookie before a knee injury threatened to derail his second season. He fought his way back onto the field in 2025 and remained a key piece of San Francisco's defense.

★ Second-team All-ACC (2023, Wake Forest)

★ Fourth-round pick, 2024 NFL Draft (No. 124 overall)

★ Rookie-season starter after Talanoa Hufanga injury

★ Career-high 76 tackles in a 2025 season shortened by injury recovery

Path to the league

Mustapha began his college career at Richmond in 2020 before transferring to Wake Forest, where he started for three seasons. As a senior in 2023 he posted 80 tackles, an interception and a forced fumble, earning second-team All-ACC honors. The 49ers selected him in the fourth round (No. 124 overall) of the 2024 NFL Draft, a pick acquired from Dallas in the Trey Lance trade.

Career highlights

Mustapha stepped into the starting lineup as a rookie once Talanoa Hufanga went down with injury, making his first start in Week 4 and picking off his first career pass in Week 6 against Seattle. He held onto the job even after Hufanga returned, finishing his rookie season with 72 tackles, five passes defensed and an interception across 16 games, establishing himself as a reliable box safety in Kyle Shanahan's defense.

2025 season recap

Mustapha reaggravated an ACL injury late in the 2024 season, which sidelined him for the start of 2025 and landed him on the PUP list. He was activated in October and worked his way back into the lineup, finishing with 76 tackles through 12 games as the 49ers made the playoffs.