Who is the best player under 25 for the 49ers?

The San Francisco 49ers boast one of the most top-heavy rosters in the NFL. At the same time, the cornerstone players are all over 30, with a few exceptions. The experience of the roster is invaluable. The team has been battle-tested, but the draft from last year and drafts moving forward will dictate the direction of the 49ers in the future. The potential exodus of Trent Williams, George Kittle, and others will force the 49ers to change course and search for future cornerstone players.

Who is the best 49ers player under 25?

Now, the 49ers have two receivers right at the age of 25 in Jacob Cowing and Ricky Pearsall. Unfortunately, neither qualifies for this question. The other part to consider is that players under 24 have little to no experience in the NFL, with some players requiring a projection of talent.

The list of players on offense under 25 includes Jordan James (22), Connor Colby (23), De’Zhaun Stribling (23), Kaelon Black (24), and Jordan Watkins (24). On defense, 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) round out the under-25 group, which shows the youth on the defensive side of the ball.

From these choices, the selection should be a defensive player, but which one? Williams flashed at times in 2025, but had his season cut short by injury. Martin has very little experience. Sigle carved out a role before losing snaps to Mustapha. West and Collins need a big jump in 2026. Stout is set for a major role in 2026 after a solid rookie season.

The answer is Stout. Yes, Williams plays a more impactful position, but until he becomes a true force as a pass rusher, his role is limited to versatility and edge setting while playing the run very well. Stout has things to clean up in coverage as more and more offenses will test the second-year slot cornerback, but his contributions as a pass rusher from the slot are where Stout makes his mark. With 11 pressures, a sack, two QB hits, and eight hurries, Stout was utilized as an extra linebacker at times. Raheem Morris will likely do the same.

Stout isn’t afraid to get his helmet dirty with 27 defensive stops and a forced fumble. Coverage is the last thing for Stout to tighten up. On 423 coverage snaps, Stout allowed 73.5% of his targets to be caught for 612 yards and a touchdown. The cornerback did add six PBUs, but his NFL QB rating when targeted is 98.1.

Under Morris, cornerbacks flourish. Stout will be vital to the 49ers’ defense, and today, he is the best 49ers player under 25.