The San Francisco 49ers are loaded with talent, but it is straight up wild how much of their core is staring down 30. We're talking about a roster full of battle-tested vets, but their future? That's all on guys they're drafting right now and in the coming years. Think about it: with big names like Trent Williams and George Kittle potentially on their way out, San Fran needs new cornerstone players, fast. And guess what? We saw Stout on the sidelines when our Seahawks handed them a 41-6 beatdown at Lumen Field back on January 17, 2026. Yeah, that game.
The Search for San Francisco's Future
So, who's the best 49er under 25? It's a tough question for them, with plenty of youth but not a ton of experience. We can't even count guys like Jacob Cowing or Ricky Pearsall, since they just hit 25. Most of these younger dudes are still pure projection, which tells you a lot about where the 49ers are headed. On offense, their under-25 list includes Jordan James (22), Connor Colby (23), De’Zhaun Stribling (23), Kaelon Black (24), and Jordan Watkins (24). On the defensive side, there's Mykel Williams (22), Nick Martin (23), Marques Sigle (23), Evan Anderson (24), Alfred Collins (24), Malik Mustapha (24), Upton Stout (24), and C.J. West (24). See? Lots of young blood on defense, but who is actually ready to step up?Upton Stout Steps Up When They Need Him Most
Out of that whole crew, the answer is Upton Stout. Yeah, Williams has flashed and plays a more impactful position, but his 2025 season got cut short by injury, and until he's a true pass rusher, he's more of a versatile edge-setter and run-stopper. Martin's barely seen the field, and Sigle lost snaps to Mustapha. West and Collins? They need a huge jump in 2026. But Stout, man, he's set for a major role this year after a solid rookie season. The dude was practically an extra linebacker, racking up 11 pressures, a sack, two QB hits, and eight hurries. He's not afraid to get dirty, either, with 27 defensive stops and a forced fumble. Raheem Morris will definitely keep using him that way. Sure, Stout needs to tighten up his coverage, allowing 73.5% of targets to be caught for 612 yards and a touchdown on 423 snaps, giving up a 98.1 QB rating. But he still added six PBUs, and under Morris, cornerbacks usually flourish. This means Stout is going to be absolutely vital to the 49ers' defense, and honestly, he's their best player under 25 right now. They're going to lean on him heavily, hoping he can grow into that cornerstone player they desperately need. We'll be watching, boys, and we'll see if these young guns can ever erase the memory of what happened in our house.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.