Talanoa Hufanga and Charvarius Ward are free agents in 2025. The 49ers invested in the secondary this past draft, and they have not disappointed.

The best organizations in the NFL always think one and two years down the line. In the San Francisco 49ers’ case, the $50 million they have in cap space in 2024 will be needed for potential cuts, dead money they need to eat moving forward and extending free agents who are vital to the team’s success.

Cornerback Deommodore Lenoir’s mega extension accounts for some of that future cap space. Brock Purdy’s inevitable deal will eat into a significant chunk of said space. The second half of the season will determine whether the 49ers bring back three notable free agents: Charvarius Ward, Dre Greenlaw, and Talanoa Hufanga.

ESPN listed the aforementioned names in the top 25 free agents for 2025. Ward, who turns 29 next year, was No. 5 on the list:

Why he could get paid: Ward has the man-coverage ability to press or pedal off the ball, along with the backfield vision to make plays in zone coverage. He posted career-best numbers in 2023 with five interceptions and 14 pass breakups. And while he hasn’t created the same on-the-ball production this season — zero interceptions, four pass breakups — Ward’s experience and technically sound game could upgrade a secondary. — Bowen

What we’re hearing: Ward has a similar outlook to Reed. He’s a third-contract player who’s in his prime after playing out a three-year deal. The 49ers would love to keep Ward, whom some league evaluators consider a top-10 corner in the NFL, but bloated salaries on their books could be a factor. Six different veterans have a $20-plus-million hit on the 2025 cap, while 10 have at least a $10 million hit — including Ward’s $12.3 million in void money. — Fowler

Ward could fall victim to circumstances he has no control over, such as his age and the other contracts on the Niners.

You need three competent cornerbacks to excel against the pass in today’s NFL. This feels like the first time you could say that during the Kyle Shanahan era. It’s no surprise that the 49ers, despite not boasting their usual terrifying pass rush, rank second in schedule-adjusted efficiency against the pass.

In Week 10, injuries forced the 49ers to play a cornerback who seldom saw the field in Rock Ya-Sin. You can never have enough depth, but it also helps to hit on your rookies. Renardo Green has been excellent in man, zone, and as a tackler.

To say Green’s first half has made Ward expendable comes off as hyperbolic. Mooney is coming off an All-Pro season and is still the most physically gifted cornerback on the roster, someone you’d trust against the upper-echelon receivers the Niners will face in the playoffs.

But money matters, and age is factored in, as is how much you have allocated to said position. It’s premature to say the 49ers chose Lenoir over Ward, but D-Mo is younger, and Green is on a rookie contract. Would the Niners shell out contracts that give them two $18 million cornerbacks on the roster? Unlikely.

Ward walking in the offseason would mean the 49ers get a comp pick in return, but it’d leave a glaring hole in the secondary.

Safety Talanoa Hufanga was expected to “miss a month or so” at the beginning of October. At the end of October, reports surfaced that Hufanga would attempt to play through his wrist injury using an air cast.

It’s been over a month, and Hufanga did not practice on Wednesday. He was No. 24 on ESPN’s free agent list:

Why he could get paid: Injuries have limited Hufanga to just 12 games over the past two seasons. However, when healthy, the former All-Pro is a natural disruptor. In 44 career games, Hufanga has 7 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles and 1 defensive TD. He is at his best in a defined coverage scheme that allows him to play in split-field alignments and spin down to roam the front. — Bowen

What we’re hearing: Here’s another top free agent out of San Francisco, which deepens the intrigue on the 49ers’ books. Hufanga has ball production, which typically warrants big money. How the safety market shapes up could be a factor in whether he stays. There are four safeties on this top-25 list and others who are just on the fringe. How many teams are willing to pay top dollar for one? Considering the position’s importance on defensive schemes, I’m guessing many. — Fowler

Malik Mustapha doesn’t have the same ball production as Hufanga did, nor does he have the splash plays that made Hufanga a fan favorite. To me, Mustapha is the more complete player, and his style of play is more in line with what the 49ers not only want but need to be an elite unit. Hufanga’s injury history dating back to college makes this decision easy. Mustapha is the future at safety, and it helps that he’s on a rookie contract.

The last player on the list was Greenlaw, at No. 20. How he looks athletically will determine how many suitors Dre has this offseason and if the 49ers can afford to bring Greenlaw back at a reasonable contract. He was in line to make a healthy amount of money before his Achilles injury. Now, Greenlaw needs a strong showing during these next couple of months.