The San Francisco 49ers, despite an oft-maligned 2026 NFL Draft class, are still in position to compete for a championship in the 2026 season. However, due to the uncertainty surrounding some young players like 2025 third-round cornerback Upton Stout, the secondary remains one of the more volatile areas on the club.
The Niners have not spent big on a cornerback in the offseason, which could be seen as a sign they are willing to give Stout tons of developmental roadway.
That could change after a high-end cornerback was made available.
The Indianapolis Colts have decided to release former Pro Bowl cornerback Kenny Moore II after nine years of service following an inability to close on a trade. Moore may look to land with the 49ers, as former Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus latched on with San Francisco as an assistant coach this offseason.
The issue is that Moore will likely be limited to the slot, which puts him in direct competition with Stout. The 49ers will have thier belief in Stout fully tested, as they could put him on the backburner in the name of pursuing a more immediate upgrade with some more experience.
49ers may need to sign Kenny Moore II despite having Upton Stout
In a delightful turn of events, Moore and Stout were nearly identical to one another in the eyes of Pro Football Focus, as they ranked as the 58th and 59th-best cornerbacks, respectively, in the league. However, Moore was in the top five in run defense grade, while Stout was right behind him in this area at No. 11 overall.
Stout made some plays during his rookie season, but his physical measurements are even more diminutive than Moore. He still needs a bit of seasoning before he can take that next step, and he could be an area of weakness teams can pick on early in the 2026 season.
Moore, meanwhile, is a battle-scarred veteran who can come in and thrive in a defense that is not that different from a schematic point of view when compared to what he was running in Indianapolis. However, the dilemma this presents is that every Moore snap may take developmental time away from Stout.
Moore is going to find a home soon, and the 49ers may need to act quick to secure him. The downfall, however, could be relegating Stout to a lesser role and putting his status for the future in question.
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