ESPN names 49ers’ breakout candidate for the 2026 season

San Francisco 49ers cornerback Upton Stout showed plenty of promise during his rookie season in 2025, appearing in 16 games and making four starts, totaling 593 defensive snaps.

Now, the 49ers are hoping the young defensive back takes another step forward in 2026 and becomes a key piece of a defense looking to rebound after finishing 25th in the NFL in passing yards allowed last season.

ESPN's Ben Solak identified a breakout candidate for all 32 NFL teams entering the 2026 season, selecting Stout as the player most likely to emerge for the 49ers.

"The 49ers' defense was young, raw and outmatched for much of last season, so it can be tough to find the diamond in the rough," Solak wrote. "But that diamond is Stout, a third-rounder who started in the slot -- a taxing position to master mentally -- and kept his head above water."

Stout finished his rookie campaign with 82 tackles, four tackles for loss, five passes defensed, one forced fumble, and one sack.

His workload was especially notable given the challenges of playing nickel cornerback, a position that demands quick decision-making and the ability to defend both the run and the pass.

Like most rookies, Stout experienced his share of ups and downs throughout the 2025 season. However, Solak believes Stout displayed an impressive ability to rebound from his mistakes.

"Stout got burned plenty as a risk taker, but he didn't make the same mistakes over and over again," Solak wrote. "He'll never dominate with pass breakups given his 5-foot-9, 181-pound size, but he has stopping power as a tackler and creates opportunities for his teammates to finish off run plays by penetrating and disrupting."

Solak believes Stout has the tools to enjoy a long NFL career if he continues to improve his understanding of the game.

"He'll stick around in the league for a long, long time as he fully gets up to the mental speed of the game," Solak wrote.