For arguably the first time since taking over their respective duties in 2017, San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch are going to rely heavily on rookies to shoulder a load for a forthcoming regular season.
The Niners' offseason overhaul set in place what'll be a massive reliance on first-year pros. And while a good deal of attention will focus on first-round draftee Mykel Williams, the defensive end out of Georgia, a day-two draft pick might actually be San Francisco's biggest rookie X-factor during the 2025 season opener against the Seattle Seahawks.
Cornerback Upton Stout.
The small-bodied nickel back was one of the players on a rapid upward trajectory during training camp, and he was one worth highlighting when the 49ers began their preseason campaign. But a calf injury ultimately led to the Western Kentucky product sitting out the exhibition phase, meaning fans couldn't catch a glimpse of the player who received no shortage of hype during camp.
That should change in Week 1.
Upton Stout is the 49ers rookie to watch in Week 1 vs. Seahawks
Despite his own outstanding preseason performance, veteran corner Chase Lucas seemed to lose the starting nickel job to Stout when the Niners released their first unofficial depth chart.
That likely points to the rookie having done more than enough to secure the first-team job, meaning he'll grace the field with the starters when coordinator Robert Saleh's defense takes the field in Seattle.
The 5-foot-9 and 181-pound defensive back certainly has a reputation for "punching above his weight class," and a matchup versus the Hawks' revamped passing game might actually work in his favor. No longer does San Francisco have to worry about standout wide receivers like Tyler Lockett and D.K. Metcalf threatening them, rather it'll be a combination of Jaxon Smith-Njigba and aging-veteran Cooper Kupp trying to haul in passes from a former 49ers quarterback, Sam Darnold.
There'll be other threats, too. But it isn't as if we're talking about a Seattle receiving corps that's projected to be elite this season.
That bodes well for Stout as he gets set to face his first non-internal NFL competition this Sunday when the Niners visit the Seahawks for a Week 1 NFC West showdown.
Hopefully for San Francisco, Stout's rapid ascent becomes fully available for the rest of the league to witness.