A rookie cornerback in San Francisco has quickly begun turning heads — not just within the 49ers’ training camp, but across the entire NFL landscape. What started as local buzz is now building into national recognition.
ESPN analyst Matt Miller recently spotlighted one of the 49ers’ young defenders, placing him No. 3 on his list of “under-the-radar rookies.” Miller praised the player’s feisty demeanor and short-area quickness, calling those traits invaluable for a modern secondary.
“The slot cornerback position in San Francisco was among the team’s top needs headed into the draft,” Miller wrote. “Landing this guy in the third round checked off a major box. He may be undersized, but his competitive fire, speed, and short-area agility make him a dangerous weapon. Once healthy, he should be the starter in the slot.”
Only then did it become clear who Miller was talking about: rookie Upton Stout.
Selected No. 100 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft after starring at Western Kentucky, the 23-year-old quickly made an impression on general manager John Lynch, who even described their draft-day phone call as “the best draft call” he’s ever had.
Lynch has been equally impressed on the field, going so far as to compare Stout to his former Tampa Bay teammate — and Hall of Famer — Ronde Barber.
“You always have to be careful when making Hall of Fame comparisons, but I played with Ronde Barber in Tampa, and Upton wears the same number,” Lynch told KNBR’s “Murph & Markus.” “It’s the competitiveness, the feistiness — that’s what drives his entire game. And beyond that, he has the skillset to match.”
Although sidelined through the preseason with a calf injury, Stout returned to practice this week. If progress continues, he appears on track to claim a substantial role in Week 1 against the Seattle Seahawks.
