NFL fans are in shock over a viral image of a shredded San Francisco 49ers rookie who makes Seattle Seahawks star wide receiver look average-size.
The San Francisco 49ers used a fourth-round pick (124th overall) on Wake Forest safety Malik Mustapha. The 2023 Second-team All-ACC member is listed at 5-foot-10 and 209 pounds, but he looks even bigger in this image that has quickly gone viral:
WOW… #49ers ROOKIE MALIK MUSTAPHA WAS BUILT IN A LAB.
ABSOLUTELY SHREDDED.@dkm14… some competition!
(h/t @Coach_Yac) pic.twitter.com/q6GJilinL1
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) July 15, 2024
Metcalf is regarded as the ultimate “freak of nature” among football fans with his combination of size, athleticism and speed (see the play in 2020 when he chased down Budda Baker to save a touchdown).
Here’s an old photo of a shirtless DK Metcalf as a comparison to the new San Francisco 49es’ safety:
Fans on social media are in shock over just how ripped Malik Mustapha is:
Dang
— Jaybird (@jbird_lv) July 15, 2024
Start him immediately.
— Joey Sauce (@JoeySauce5) July 15, 2024
This makes DK jealous
— Fantasy Football Dudes (@TFFDudes) July 15, 2024
Mustapha vs DK metcalf 💪🏼
— SeptimusPrime (@PrimeSeptimus2) July 15, 2024
🤯
— Gina Chiefs (@GinaChiefs) July 15, 2024
Imagine a collision with DK
— GeneralWassabi (@jniner37) July 15, 2024
Over his three seasons at Wake Forest, Mustapha tallied three interceptions, seven pass breakups, four forced fumbles, four sacks and 15 tackles for a loss. He helped the program to a 2021 Gator Bowl victory over Rutgers and a Gasparilla Bowl win over Missouri the following year.
The San Francisco 49ers will roll with superstar Talanoa Hufanga and sophomore Ji’Ayir Brown as their safety tandem for 2024. Hufanga is coming off surgery on a torn ACL that ended his season in November.
San Francisco 49ers Open Season vs. New York Jets
Coming off a heartbreaking loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 58, the 49ers will look to follow the footsteps of the 2018 New England Patriots by winning it all a year after falling short in the big game.
San Francisco’s quest to redemption will begin on Sept. 9, when they host old friend Aaron Rodgers and his New York Jets on “Monday Night Football” at Levi’s Stadium. Barring a showdown in the Super Bowl, this will be the last meeting between Rodgers and his childhood team in what has been a defining rivalry of the 21st century.
