Jaden Dugger, a guy scouts couldn’t even pin down to a position, just exploded for a team-high 10 tackles and two quarterback hits in the San Francisco 49ers’ preseason finale win against the Raiders. Yeah, you heard that right, *10 tackles*. This fifth-round pick, who most evaluators probably ignored, is making some serious noise right now, and the buzz is getting real.
From Undrafted Fear to Unleashed Weapon
Back in 2023, Dugger was a safety. In 2024, he was a pass rusher. By 2025, an inside linebacker. Louisiana coach Michael Desormeaux was legit worried his star pupil would go undrafted because of all the position changes. Scouts kept telling Desormeaux, “We just don’t see where he fits.” Desormeaux’s answer? “Pick a spot for him. He’ll be a great pick.” He even challenged them, saying, “Well, he just needs to play linebacker. Or whatever he’s going to play.” The 49ers listened, at least a little, grabbing him in the fifth round four months ago. Instead of forcing him into one spot, they’re leaning into his insane versatility. Defensive coordinator Raheem Morris even coined a term for him: a “fever backer,” a Swiss Army knife who can rush the edge or play “big nickel.”
That Unleashed Weapon is Built Different
This ain’t your average linebacker. Dugger stands 6-foot-5, 242 pounds, with “gas-hose arms” that measure a ridiculous 35 inches. Think about that, his arms are longer than left tackle Trent Williams’, who’s at 34¼ inches. Only one defensive lineman on the 49ers is taller. This summer, he’s been everywhere, playing multiple linebacker spots and even jumping in with the defensive linemen for pass-rush drills. He was competing for the starting strong-side linebacker gig and is looking like the favorite for that part-time “fever backer” role. After his performance in that 18-12 win over Las Vegas, Hall of Famer Patrick Willis himself took to social media, posting “#53 is going to be good player.” Linebackers coach K.J. Wright doubled down, saying, “This guy is going to be a really, really special player.”
Seriously, what a start for a guy who was the 154th pick and only started two seasons in college. His college stats weren’t flashy, either: one interception as a safety over two years, one sack in his single season as a pass rusher.
This dude was a zero-star high school recruit who started at Georgetown, an FCS school that hasn’t had an NFL draft pick since 1953. He didn’t even get an invite to the NFL combine after his two seasons at Louisiana. NFL.com’s pre-draft outlook? “Candidate for bottom of roster or practice squad.” Now look at him. Betting against Jaden Dugger? That just feels stupid. He’s already shown everyone he’s ready for the big stage, and you know what? The regular season is about to kick off, and it’s time to see what this “fever backer” can really do.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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