The San Francisco 49ers defense may get a huge lift this season from one of its 2025 NFL draft picks.
Cornerback Upton Stout didn't come out of nowhere for the 49ers this season. The 2025 third-round pick was a Day 1 starter as a nickel corner for San Francisco and despite some hiccups in his rookie year never relinquished his starting spot. Despite missing one game and technically "starting" only four, he played 593 (58 percent) of the team's defensive snaps last season.
That experience he developed as a rookie has helped him make a leap in his second season according to head coach Kyle Shanahan.
“Just more knowledge," Shanahan told reporter in a press conference after Friday's practice. "I thought Upton was so impressive the first day he got
here. He was one of our stars in OTAs I felt like and training camp as a rookie. He plays so aggressively, so hard. He's got that chip on his shoulder being a smaller guy. He's going to be mad at me for saying that, but he's our bulldog. He's always been so aggressive, and I think where he'd just be better is that he's been in the league for a year. So, a little bit more knowledgeable, a little bit more aware of how people are trying to attack the nickel position. That's where he's excelled the most.”
Stout didn't light up the traditional or advanced box scores last season. He allowed a completion rate of 69.6 percent, gave up 7.7 yards per target and allowed a 92.1 passer rating when targeted according to football reference. He also turned in an impressive 82 tackles, 1.0 sacks, four tackles for loss, five pass breakups and two QB hits.
However, his play improved throughout the course of the year and he carried it over into his second season. Stout was a regular standout in camp according to reporters at the team facility, and in the team's season opener he allowed one catch on three targets for three yards. Pro Football Focus had Stout targeted twice while covering wide receiver Davante Adams, and once while covering tight end Colby Parkinson.
If the 49ers can lean on their secondary to play sticky coverage, it eases some of the burden on the pass rush to force quarterbacks into mistakes. With one regular season game down in his second season it seems like Stout is equal to the task of helping raise the 49ers' defensive ceiling. If he continues making strides throughout his second year, there could be some post-season honors in Stout's very near future.
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This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: Kyle Shanahan explains why key 49ers defender has made Year 2 leap
