The San Francisco 49ers made plenty of changes this offseason and the headlines centered more around who was leaving than who was joining the team. Brock Purdy’s five-year, $265 million contract added a challenge to John Lynch’s roster building process this spring and several mainstays that helped San Francisco reach the Super Bowl two years ago are now with different teams.
The departures of names like Deebo Samuel and Charvarius Ward create an opportunity for those left behind. But it also means that an incoming veteran can’t afford to slack off as a breakout rookie has made his push for a roster spot during offseason workouts.
Tre Brown Could Battle 49ers Rookie for Starting Job During Training Camp
The 49ers secondary was shuffled this offseason when Ward signed with the Indianapolis Colts. The move put former slot corner Deommodore Lenoir into a starting spot on the outside and opened up an offseason battle to replace him.
Tre Brown was considered the favorite for the role after signing with the Seattle Seahawks this offseason and The Athletic’s Matt Barrows labeled him as one of 10 players that stood out during spring practices. But he also commended third-round pick Upton Stout, who also had a strong performance during OTA workouts and minicamp.
“At 5-foot-8, Stout is the second shortest player on the 49ers’ roster. However, he didn’t look out of place – or even small – on the practice field in recent weeks,” Barrows wrote. “In stead, he looked the part. On Wednesday, he shadowed fellow rookie Jordan Watkins out of the slot, hung on Watkins’ hip when he darted back toward the middle of the field and then immediately tagged up the receiver after a catch for what would have been either a small or no gain.
“Nickel cornerbacks are essentially mini linebackers, and the true test will come in the summer, especially in the preseason games, when there is live tackling. But Stout appears to be one of the least timid players on the roster and a good fit for the rough-and-tumble aspects of the position.”
Barrows’s assessment should give Brown pause even with a strong performance during minicamp. At 5-foot-10 and 186 pounds, Brown has the size of a prototypical slot corner. But his coverage skills have been lacking as he’s allowed a 103.0 passer rating over his four seasons with the Seahawks. He also owns a 13.3% missed tackle rate that spiked to 17.1% in 2023.
This could open the door for Stout, who was an elite tackler during his collegiate career. He logged a 7.9% missed tackle rate last season with Western Kentucky and owned a 10% missed tackle rate throughout his five seasons. Stout was also better in coverage with a 78.9 passer rating allowed, although there could be a learning curve jumping to the NFL.
Brown has attributed injuries as a key reason for his performance and his health may have been a reason why Barrows also labeled him as one of the 49ers’ top four corners during practices. While Lenoir’s legal situation is pending after he was arrested this week, Brown will need to keep playing at a high level to keep a starting spot.