The San Francisco 49ers better hope rookie defensive back Upton Stout impresses during offseason workouts right out of the gate.
They don't have too many contingency plans available if he doesn't.
The third-round NFL draftee out of Western Kentucky endeared himself to Niners fans with a great reaction to getting drafted, and his sentiments since are helping him trend toward becoming a fan-favorite player:
A special place to be. pic.twitter.com/Ak6IwsKAWM
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) May 27, 2025
That said, there's a long way to go before solidifying himself as a crucial part of coordinator Robert Saleh's defense.
The Niners envision Stout as a nickel defender, not a true starter in a base-down sense, although San Francisco spends approximately two-thirds of defensive snaps with three cornerbacks on the field, essentially meaning the rookie would see plenty of time.
In theory, Stout could fully take over slot-corner duties, which would allow veteran defensive back Deommodore Lenoir to assume full-time work on the boundary alongside second-year pro Renardo Green.
That's in theory, though. And Stout will have to prove he's worth the investment.
Upton Stout needs to get out to hot start during 49ers OTAs
As NBC Sports Bay Area's Matt Maiocco pointed out, San Francisco hasn't had a true nickel back since K'Waun Williams graced the field back in 2021, and the rotation of Lenoir from the inside to the boundary has been mostly the norm since.
At 5-foot-9 and 181 pounds, Stout would fill that inside role, but it'll be up to him to seize the opportunity sooner than later.
If for no other reason than the 49ers don't have much of a contingency plan.
After losing veteran corner Charvarius Ward in free agency to the Indianapolis Colts, the Niners are banking on Stout plugging the inside cornerback role right out of the gate, thereby allowing both Green and Lenoir to patrol the perimeter.
However, Stout will have to earn the job quickly, which isn't always easy in light of many a first-year defensive back struggling to transition to the NFL ranks. Opposing receivers are bigger, faster and run far more complex routes than anything the former Hilltopper faced at the collegiate level.
OTAs will make it more difficult, too. The rookie won't be able to rely on press-man coverage, nor will his physicality come into play, seeing no contact is allowed during these padless practices.
Instead, Stout will have to show his mettle via footwork and positioning more than strength. It won't be easy.
However, if Stout responds adequately enough, San Francisco will be one step closer to deploying a fully revamped cornerback room in 2025.