49ers veteran defender praises teammate's strong rookie season

Upton Stout emerged as one of the top performers from the San Francisco 49ers' 2025 rookie class. The third-round pick finished the season as the team's highest-graded cornerback, according to Pro Football Focus. Among 49ers rookies who logged significant playing time, Stout posted a 62.0 overall grade—the best of the group—and ranked sixth among all NFL rookie cornerbacks this season.

While Stout experienced some early growing pains, his play steadily improved as the season progressed. His development and playmaking ability didn't go unnoticed inside the locker room, where teammates gained confidence in his ability to handle a demanding role at the nickel spot, where he played 86 percent of his defensive snaps.

Veteran cornerback Deommodore Lenoir was particularly impressed. When asked about the rookie class on Monday, Lenoir singled out Stout for his impact during his first NFL season.

"They (the rookies) was a big help this year," Lenoir told reporters. "They showed up in big games, made plays, and they played very dominant, especially Upton Stout. I gotta give credit to him because, to me, playing the nickel position, I know how hard it gets when you have a run assignment and a pass assignment. So, just knowing what he had to go through, every snap, I just take my hat off to him."

San Francisco selected Stout out of Western Kentucky in the third round with the No. 100 overall pick. He played 58 percent of the defensive snaps and finished the season with 82 tackles (four for a loss), two quarterback hits, one sack, five passes defensed, and a forced fumble.

Stout also joined a defensive backs room that grew closer as the season went on, something Lenoir believes made a difference.

"I kind of got closer to the whole DB room, I would say," Lenoir said. "The year before, we knew each other, and we was playing hard for each other, but I feel like our relationship got more tighter this year. We started doing more like team-bonding stuff."

For the 49ers, Stout's rookie season offered a promising glimpse into the future of their secondary. With continued development and the trust of veteran teammates like Lenoir, the young defensive back appears poised to build on his early success and improve in Year 2.