The San Francisco 49ers used their final Day 2 draft pick on Western Kentucky cornerback Upton Stout, addressing a position of need. Some experts expected the team to prioritize cornerback earlier, with several mock drafts even projecting Michigan's Will Johnson to the 49ers at No. 11 overall.
Due to health concerns, Johnson ultimately slid to pick No. 47, where the Arizona Cardinals selected him in the second round.
Stout's addition adds depth to the secondary and raises questions about Deommodore Lenoir's role. Will the versatile veteran remain at outside corner, or shift inside with Stout now in the mix?
When asked if keeping Lenoir on the outside would be ideal, head coach Kyle Shanahan responded, "Possibly. I mean, we're going to still play it out. I think Demo is great inside, I think he's great outside. We probably see Upton, definitely, as an inside player, so that was a big need, the way it fell, especially in the draft.
Shanahan added, "But Demo can do either. I think it's easier for a guy when he can stay at one spot, so we'll work that through OTAs and training camp and see how it ends up."
General manager John Lynch also shared his thoughts on the pick.
"Upton, we knew we wanted a nickel, and there were a number of guys in play, and he ended up [being the pick]," Lynch said. "And he was a guy we had a lot of affinity for, and so, it was really fortunate that he was still there at 100. It was getting a little hairy, but he hung on, so that was awesome."
Additionally, Lynch made it clear that the draft picks will still face competition and need to work hard to earn roles with the team.
