Fifth-round rookie linebacker Jaden Dugger is already making some serious noise for the San Francisco 49ers, showing off a crazy level of defensive versatility that’s got everyone, especially linebackers coach K.J. Wright, talking. This dude, who started college as a safety before converting to MIKE linebacker, is the living embodiment of what new defensive coordinator Raheem Morris is preaching: versatility on defense.
Dude’s Playing Everywhere, For Real
Seriously, this rookie is doing it all. K.J. Wright himself laid out how Dugger is getting thrown into the fire: “Every day of practice, [he] plays the MIKE, WILL, and the star position.” And if that wasn’t enough, they’re even slinging him into some D-line reps, playing off the edge, even though it’s his first offseason! Wright said, “now throw him a curveball, he’s gonna play D-line. You’re like, what? That can do a lot to a player’s mind.” But get this, he handled it “pitch perfect.” The guy rushed, he set the edge, and he even made one-on-ones against running backs look easy. It’s clear Dugger’s main spot is linebacker, but man, he can absolutely “go burn that edge and go get after that quarterback” in a third-down package. That’s next-level stuff for a rookie.
K.J. Wright Saw This Coming
This isn’t some accident either. Wright actually scouted this kind of versatility on tape, noticing Dugger’s college journey from safety to MIKE linebacker. He followed up that hunch with an interview back in April during the pre-draft process, and that’s when he knew. “I knew, I was like, this guy can handle multiple [positions]. He did it in college,” Wright confirmed. Playing three positions in practice, that’s not easy, but for Dugger, it seems like second nature. Wright meets with the rookies every day, putting them on the board, handing them the clicker, asking them to be the coach. It’s all about developing that football IQ, and Dugger is clearly soaking it all up.
Dugger is still relatively new to the linebacker spot, but the 49ers are fully committed to developing him there. The positives on his tape were just too obvious for Wright to ignore, making him a clear fit for what San Francisco wants to do. Keep an eye on this guy; his ability to play multiple roles could make him an “extra valuable” asset, especially when they need to get after the quarterback in big moments. This early season buzz is just the start for Dugger.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Niners Nation.
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