Overview

• Shanahan praised Stout as one of the most competitive rookies he’s coached, attributing his rapid climb up the depth chart to meticulous preparation and on-field intensity.
• Robert Saleh described him as a “straining, scrappy young man,” noting that Stout consistently plays bigger than his 5-foot-9, 181-pound frame suggests.
• Stout forged a film-study partnership with former nickelback K’Waun Williams during OTAs and camp, exchanging cut-ups to refine his slot coverage techniques.
• Linebacker Fred Warner singled him out as the top rookie in one-on-one and team drills, commending his heart and playmaking against premier wideouts.
• John Lynch said Stout’s emergence could offset higher slot-cornerback salaries, providing the 49ers with valuable salary-cap flexibility going into the season.