With the preseason coming to a close, the San Francisco 49ers will get to work setting their 53-man roster ahead of the regular season opener against the Los Angeles Rams. One of the biggest standouts from the summer was rookie linebacker Jaden Dugger. Almost on cue, 49ers legend Patrick Willis confirmed the team has something special on its hands.
The Hall of Famer took to social media after Thursday’s victory against the Las Vegas Raiders and wrote the following about Dugger:
#53 is going to be good player. I’m seeing what Coach KJ saw. It’s subtle! Potential ↗️
— Patrick Willis (@PatrickWillis52) August 28, 2026
That is some high praise from Willis, and it seems to confirm what many fans suspected about Dugger: he’s a truly unique talent. Thursday’s contest in Las Vegas saw him record 10 tackles, five of them solo. He also was able to pressure quarterback Fernando Mendoza.
Jaden Dugger has all the right people around him in 49ers camp
In his post, Willis was referring to linebacker coach KJ Wright, who is the perfect mentor for Dugger. They are built similarly. Both are bigger, long-armed linebackers, and if there is anyone who can help Dugger reach his potential, it is Wright.
Dugger's defensive coordinator might be just as good of a fit as his linebacker coach. "Versatility" is the word that comes up most often when people talk about Raheem Morris’ defensive philosophy. He likes moving guys around to different positions. The rookie fits that mold. He can play linebacker, edge rusher, and maybe even a quasi-safety role. After all, he was a safety-turned-linebacker at Louisiana.
Expect to see him utilized in many different ways, even if he ultimately ends up settling into a more conventional linebacker role. His versatility raises questions about his ceiling, and in the best way possible. It's not often a team brings in a young defender who can provide value in multiple places on the field.
The Niners are going to need some of their draft picks to start panning out if they wish to keep their championship window open. They haven’t exactly drafted many high-impact players in recent years, but guys like De’Zhaun Stribling, Kaelon Black, and Dugger could change that. If they end up working out, it could change the entire landscape of the organization.
There will undoubtedly be growing pains for Dugger, but if Willis sees promise in the young defender, then there's probably something there. Given the mentors the rookie has around him, success is looking more probable by the day.
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