Rookie Corner Has Been the Biggest Surprise from 49ers Training Camp

Through the first few days of training camp, the 49ers’ secondary looked to be their weakest position group on the team. As training camp concludes in the next couple of days, that may still be the case. However, several players have stepped up in the absence of the team’s top corners like Deommodore Lenoir and Renardo Green. Eyes are usually targeted toward newcomers, and rookie corner Upton Stout has shone the most throughout the entirety of camp. Stout has been given a ton of opportunities with the starters, where he’s taken full advantage. Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh seems to have full faith and confidence in the standout rookie, giving Stout plenty of time to truly master his role within the defense. 

Stout, who was the team’s third-round selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, has cemented his impact as a nickel corner, covering and clamping down on most reps against wide receivers like Ricky Pearsall and Russell Gage. Pearsall has shone at certain times throughout camp. However, Stout has gotten the best of him multiple times, specifically during Tuesday’s practice. In addition, Stout’s shown unbelievable range to make plays, including one of the best plays of training camp where he flew across the field to make a huge pass breakup on a deep ball intended for Christian McCaffrey. The third-round rookie is beginning to prove he has the potential to create a major impact as early as Week One of the 2025 season. 

San Francisco’s draft philosophy this offseason was to select prospects they knew could contribute immediately to the revitalization of their run defense. At Western Kentucky, Stout’s biggest strength on film was his versatility and display of violence when flying downhill in the run game. Entering training camp, Stout needed to prioritize displaying his talent as a cover corner, and he has done just that. From dissecting past tapes and cutups of various nickel corners to reaching out and building a relationship with former 49ers nickel corner K’Waun Williams, Stout has made a strong impression with his maturity and enthusiasm for the game. Defensive backs coach Daniel Bullocks and the 49ers are beginning to understand they potentially have an impactful all-around contributor in the secondary for the long term.