The San Francisco 49ers added eight players in the 2026 NFL draft, and while there are several rookies who have impressed throughout training camp and the team's three preseason games, only one has caught the eye of an NFL Hall of Famer.
In the middle of San Francisco's preseason finale against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on Thursday, former 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis took to social media to share his thoughts on rookie Jaden 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
Dugger, 22, played collegiately at Georgetown from 2022-23 and Louisiana from 2024-25, where he earned All-Sun Belt honors once. The 49ers took him in fifth round of the 2026 NFL draft, and he's popped over the last
month.
When Willis posted that, Dugger had a game-high 10 sacks and a pair of quarterback hits.
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This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 49ers Hall of Famer likes what he's seeing from rookie 5th-round pick
