Following the NFL Draft, the San Francisco 49ers have a new look to their linebacker room. Early in free agency, Dre Greenlaw returned to San Francisco to pair back up with Fred Warner. Dee Winters started next to Warner last season and performed admirably before a late-season decline, which was partly due to an injury.
On day three of the draft, the Dallas Cowboys sent a fifth-round pick for Winters. With pick 154, the 49ers drafted linebacker Jaden Dugger from Louisiana. Dugger could be a hybrid
player between linebacker and safety?
49ers GM John Lynch explained the thought process behind the trade.
“Dee was going to be a free agent after this season, Lynch explained in a press conference with local reporters on Friday. “We liked our numbers. We thought we would likely draft a player in this draft, and we wanted to have the opportunity to do that.”
Was the decision motivated by last year’s selection of Oklahoma State linebacker Nick Martin, who essentially redshirted in 2025?
“I think it speaks to that whole room, Lynch said. “We had gotten up there in numbers. We had a team that was very interested in a player. They were kind of, I won’t say aggressive, but they just stayed on it. And it makes you kind of look at things.”
The 49ers’ defense rarely plays in base defense with three linebackers, and when they did in 2025, Luke Gifford was on the field with Warner and Winters before injuries took them both out. In 2026, the 49ers have injury concerns with Greenlaw, and the trade of Winters to a blood rival is a signal of confidence in the second-year linebacker to contribute.
In a perfect world, Warner and Greenlaw play every snap at linebacker. However, the 49ers are never in a perfect world, so it is a safe bet for Martin to have to play meaningful snaps this season. After a redshirt season, Lynch and the 49ers are telling you how they feel about Martin.
The draft classes of the 49ers have been under heavy scrutiny in the days after the NFL draft. If Martin can contribute and solidify himself, the team will need another review of his pick and the draft class from the 49ers last season.
