Rookie CB Upton Stout is a must-watch in 49ers’ secondary
The San Francisco 49ers drafted cornerback Upton Stout in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft. The No. 100 overall pick is currently listed as a starter on the 49ers defense.
Stout finished his junior and senior seasons at Western Kentucky University after transferring from the University of North Texas. In his final season at Western Kentucky, he was a first-team selection for All-Conference USA. According to ESPN, he has not allowed a touchdown as the nearest defender in over 400 coverage snaps.
San Francisco was one of Pro Football Focus’s best secondaries in the NFL going into the 2024 season, but injuries and lack of depth plagued the success of the unit. This offseason, they lost multiple players from their starting secondary, including former All-Pros, safety Talanoa Hufanga and cornerback Charvarius Ward.
In the draft, the 49ers spent a majority of their picks on defense in an attempt to overhaul the defense. They also brought back defensive coordinator Robert Saleh with hopes that he can reach similar success levels to his previous stint in San Francisco.
Stout is one of the many rookies on defense who can make a difference for the 49ers this season. He is currently occupying the starting nickelback position in Saleh’s secondary, alongside safeties Ji’Ayir Brown and Malik Mustapha and cornerback Deommodore Lenoir. Lenoir has proven to be a good fit in San Francisco’s defense, but the 49ers Faithful are interested to see if Stout can fill the void that Ward left.
Stout is considered an undersized cornerback at 5-foot-9 and 181 pounds. His size is a concern, especially coming from a non-Power Four school and now going up against NFL competition. However, his performance at the NFL combine impressed scouts, with 21 reps of 225 pounds and a 4.44-second 40-yard dash. The combination of strength and speed helped Stout compete against the 49ers’ veteran pass-catchers.
Saleh has high praise for the rookie, despite the criticism about his size.
“I mean, the guy plays way bigger than he is and way bigger than he looks,” Saleh said. “He's got a violence to him; he's got a violence to his demeanor. So, he's coming along really well too in that regard."
Only time will tell how Stout will develop. With the defense under Saleh and veteran leaders on defense, the 49ers are optimistic about his chances to develop into a well-rounded starter.