# Jaden Dugger
**Jaden Dugger** (born 2004) is an American professional football linebacker for the [San Francisco 49ers](https://www.edgepedia.org/san-francisco-49ers) of the [National Football League](https://www.edgepedia.org/national-football-league), who was selected in the fifth round, No. 154 overall, of the 2026 NFL Draft after a college career in which he converted from safety to linebacker at Georgetown and Louisiana.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 2004, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Lance and Tanisha Dugger[1](https://www.49ers.com/team/players-roster/jaden-dugger/) |
| Position / number | Linebacker, No. 53, San Francisco 49ers; rookie experience[1](https://www.49ers.com/team/players-roster/jaden-dugger/) |
| Size | 6 feet 5 inches, 242 pounds[1](https://www.49ers.com/team/players-roster/jaden-dugger/) |
| College | Georgetown (2022-23, safety), Louisiana (2024-25, linebacker/edge)[1](https://www.49ers.com/team/players-roster/jaden-dugger/) |
| College totals | 48 games (31 starts), 225 tackles, 21.0 TFLs, 8.0 sacks, 16 pass deflections, 2 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles[1](https://www.49ers.com/team/players-roster/jaden-dugger/) |
| Draft | Round 5, No. 154 overall, 2026 NFL Draft, San Francisco 49ers, acquired via a trade with the Baltimore Ravens[2](https://www.nfl.com/players/jaden-dugger/) |
| College honors | First-Team All-Sun Belt (2025); Second-Team All-Patriot League (2023)[1](https://www.49ers.com/team/players-roster/jaden-dugger/) |
## Early life and high school
Dugger was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and attended Penn Hills High School in Pittsburgh, where he also played receiver in addition to his defensive roles.[1](https://www.49ers.com/team/players-roster/jaden-dugger/) • [3](https://www.si.com/nfl/steelers/onsi/news/pittsburgh-steelers-eyes-freakish-safety-linebacker-jaden-dugger) He began his college career at Georgetown, a school the [San Francisco Chronicle](https://www.edgepedia.org/san-francisco-chronicle) described as far better known for basketball than football.[4](https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/49ers/article/inside-jaden-dugger-s-journey-no-star-recruit-22407212.php)
## College career
**Georgetown (2022-23).** Dugger played safety for the Hoyas. As a true freshman in 2022 he appeared in 10 games with 4 starts and recorded 22 tackles and 3 pass deflections. In 2023 he started all 11 games he appeared in and tallied 41 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, 7 pass deflections, 1 interception, and 1 forced fumble, earning Second-Team All-[Patriot League](https://www.edgepedia.org/patriot-league) honors.[1](https://www.49ers.com/team/players-roster/jaden-dugger/)
**Louisiana (2024-25).** After transferring to Louisiana, he moved to linebacker and edge for his final two seasons. In 2024 he appeared in 14 games with 3 starts and recorded 37 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, 2 pass deflections, and 1 forced fumble.[1](https://www.49ers.com/team/players-roster/jaden-dugger/) His 2025 senior season was his most productive: he started all 13 games and totaled 125 tackles, 13.0 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks, 4 pass deflections, 1 interception, and 1 forced fumble, earning First-Team All-[Sun Belt](https://www.edgepedia.org/sun-belt) honors and leading his team in tackles.[1](https://www.49ers.com/team/players-roster/jaden-dugger/) • [5](https://www.49ers.com/news/49ers-select-lb-jaden-dugger-with-the-no-154-pick-in-the-2026-nfl-draft) During that season he recorded a career-high 16 tackles against Southern Miss and added 11 tackles in his first start at the "Mike" linebacker position against Rice.[6](https://ragincajuns.com/documents/download/2025/12/12/2025.12.17.Delaware.pdf) Across four seasons at the two programs he appeared in 48 games with 31 starts.[1](https://www.49ers.com/team/players-roster/jaden-dugger/)
## 2026 NFL Draft
The 49ers selected Dugger with the 154th-overall pick in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, a pick acquired in a Day 3 trade with the [Baltimore Ravens](https://www.edgepedia.org/baltimore-ravens) in which San Francisco sent pick No. 133 and received pick No. 154 plus a 2027 sixth-round selection.[2](https://www.nfl.com/players/jaden-dugger/) • [5](https://www.49ers.com/news/49ers-select-lb-jaden-dugger-with-the-no-154-pick-in-the-2026-nfl-draft) He did not participate in the NFL Combine, but scouts noted his size, length, and athletic upside.[5](https://www.49ers.com/news/49ers-select-lb-jaden-dugger-with-the-no-154-pick-in-the-2026-nfl-draft) At his pro day he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.61 seconds with 35-inch arms.[7](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/28925085/jaden-dugger/)
NFL analyst Lance Zierlein's draft profile described him as a rangy former safety still early in learning the off-ball linebacker spot, with exceptional length, the speed to run down wide-flowing backs, and above-average tackling in space, but inconsistent diagnosing blocking schemes and needing work with block take-ons inside the box.[8](https://www.nfl.com/draft/tracker/2026/prospects/lb_louisiana) Scouting reports consistently framed him as a developmental prospect: [CBS Sports](https://www.edgepedia.org/cbs-sports) called him the right type of late-round developmental target given his speed and reach, potentially at either inside or outside linebacker.[7](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/28925085/jaden-dugger/)
## Professional career
Dugger entered the league as a rookie in 2026 wearing No. 53. Through his first five games he recorded 10 solo tackles (17 combined), 2 starts, and 1 sack.[1](https://www.49ers.com/team/players-roster/jaden-dugger/) In Week 5 against the [Seattle Seahawks](https://www.edgepedia.org/seattle-seahawks) he brought down quarterback [Sam Darnold](https://www.edgepedia.org/sam-darnold) for a 7-yard loss, his first career NFL sack, in a 32-29 49ers win.[2](https://www.nfl.com/players/jaden-dugger/) • [1](https://www.49ers.com/team/players-roster/jaden-dugger/)
Through the first part of the 2026 season, [Pro Football Focus](https://www.edgepedia.org/pro-football-focus) credited him with a 60.7 overall defensive grade, 44th among 72 qualified linebackers, with a run-defense grade of 71.0 that ranked 19th at the position, a pass-rush grade of 63.7, and a coverage grade of 46.1, on 147 defensive snaps.[9](https://www.pff.com/nfl/players/jaden-dugger/162137)
## Playing style
Dugger's profile is defined by an unusual combination for an off-ball linebacker: a 6-foot-5 frame with 35-inch arms and safety experience in coverage.[1](https://www.49ers.com/team/players-roster/jaden-dugger/) • [7](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/28925085/jaden-dugger/) Scouting reports identified his strengths as length, straight-line speed, and wrap-up tackling, and his weaknesses as a lean frame lacking strength to consistently fight through trenches, some lateral stiffness, and instincts still developing after the position switch from safety.[10](https://bengalsupnorth.com/2026-nfl-draft-lb-rankings-scouting-reports/) • [8](https://www.nfl.com/draft/tracker/2026/prospects/lb_louisiana)
## References
1. [Jaden Dugger, San Francisco 49ers roster page](https://www.49ers.com/team/players-roster/jaden-dugger/)
2. [Jaden Dugger Stats, News and Video, NFL.com](https://www.nfl.com/players/jaden-dugger/)
3. [Steelers Have Eyes on Freakish Safety-Turned-LB, Sports Illustrated](https://www.si.com/nfl/steelers/onsi/news/pittsburgh-steelers-eyes-freakish-safety-linebacker-jaden-dugger)
4. [Inside Jaden Dugger's journey from no-star recruit to 49ers linebacker, San Francisco Chronicle](https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/49ers/article/inside-jaden-dugger-s-journey-no-star-recruit-22407212.php)
5. [49ers Select LB Jaden Dugger with the No. 154 Pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, 49ers.com](https://www.49ers.com/news/49ers-select-lb-jaden-dugger-with-the-no-154-pick-in-the-2026-nfl-draft)
6. [2025 Football Position Notes (Defense), RaginCajuns.com](https://ragincajuns.com/documents/download/2025/12/12/2025.12.17.Delaware.pdf)
7. [Jaden Dugger, San Francisco 49ers, LB, CBS Sports](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/28925085/jaden-dugger/)
8. [Louisiana 2026 LB Draft Prospects, NFL.com Draft Tracker](https://www.nfl.com/draft/tracker/2026/prospects/lb_louisiana)
9. [Jaden Dugger, San Francisco 49ers LB, PFF](https://www.pff.com/nfl/players/jaden-dugger/162137)
10. [2026 NFL Draft: LB Rankings & Scouting Reports, Bengals Up North](https://bengalsupnorth.com/2026-nfl-draft-lb-rankings-scouting-reports/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Rugby and other football codes › American football players, coaches, and executives › Linebackers › Active professional linebackers › NFC linebackers*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 11, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license