The San Francisco 49ers’ signing of Jack Jones is clearly bad news for Renardo Green, who was already in a tough spot following free agency. However, another player who could be impacted that has not been discussed as much is Upton Stout.
Will the San Francisco 49ers push Upton Stout in training camp?
When San Francisco signed Nate Hobbs in free agency, there were immediate questions about how he would be used. Hobbs has typically been at his best in the slot, but he did spend time playing on the outside last season with the Green Bay Packers. Based on that and Green’s struggles compared to Stout last season, it initially appeared that Hobbs might be brought in to push Green for snaps.
With the addition of Jones, that outlook shifts. Green is now clearly under pressure, but that also creates a situation where Hobbs could factor into competition elsewhere in the secondary.Â
One possibility is that the team creates a three-man competition on the outside, allowing the top performer to earn a starting role.
At the same time, Hobbs’ natural fit in the slot cannot be ignored. That creates a situation where he could also push Stout for snaps inside. If Hobbs is moved back into the slot full-time, it would put direct pressure on Stout to hold onto his role during training camp.
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There is also the influence of defensive coordinator Raheem Morris to consider. Morris did not draft Stout, but he was part of the decision to bring in Hobbs. That connection could play a role in how the competition is structured and where players are ultimately used.
With Jones, Green, and Hobbs all in the mix, it may be difficult for the coaching staff to give each player equal reps on the outside. That could lead to a clearer split, where Jones and Green rotate outside while Hobbs competes more directly with Stout in the slot.
This level of competition gives the 49ers multiple options. It allows them to evaluate Green more closely while also creating a fallback plan if he does not perform. At the same time, it introduces real pressure on Stout, who may now have to defend his role rather than simply build on it.
It is also possible that the 49ers reshape their starting secondary entirely. A lineup featuring Deommodore Lenoir, Jones, and Hobbs would include two new starters in the defensive backfield. With a new defensive coordinator and a secondary that struggled last season, the team has reason to consider changes.
If the 49ers also address safety in the 2026 NFL Draft, the secondary could look significantly different by the start of the season. That makes training camp especially important, as players like Stout will need to prove they belong in a more competitive and uncertain depth chart.