49ers' Fifth-Round Pick Jaden Dugger Could Start at Linebacker
Jaden Dugger, a fifth-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, may be ready to start at linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers. Despite going unrecruited and switching positions and schools, his preseason performance has impressed coaches. The team sees him as a potential late-round gem.
Dugger entered the 2026 NFL Draft without the typical recruiting pedigree, having gone unranked and largely ignored by scouts throughout his college career. His path included multiple position changes and a transfer between schools, which contributed to his late-round projection before San Francisco selected him in the fifth round.
During preseason action, including the August 20 game against the Chargers, Dugger demonstrated enough ability to draw serious consideration from the coaching staff for a starting role. The 49ers organization views his rapid development as evidence they may have uncovered a valuable late-round asset, with his preseason tape reinforcing that optimism.
Dugger's rise from unranked prospect to potential starter could reinforce the value NFL teams place on preseason evaluation over collegiate pedigree. His success may encourage franchises to invest more heavily in developmental players who lack traditional recruiting credentials, potentially reshaping scouting priorities. For fans, it offers a compelling underdog narrative, while for the 49ers, it could provide cost-effective depth at a premium position, demonstrating that late-round selections can meaningfully impact roster construction and team competitiveness.