The 49ers’ late Sunday move for Deion Jones changed more than just the linebacker depth chart. It may have also pointed Jaden Dugger toward the role that fits him best.
San Francisco added the veteran linebacker from the Saints, sending Jones back into a reunion with defensive coordinator Raheem Morris as he tries to show he still has something left. It was an odd fit on the surface, especially with the 49ers having dealt away running back Zamir White even though the backfield behind Christian McCaffrey already looks thin.
But the ripple effect may matter more for a rookie who has been drawing attention all summer.
Dugger, a fifth-round pick from Louisiana, came into camp with plenty of buzz because of his versatility. He was drafted as a safety-turned-linebacker, the kind of hybrid piece that can be moved around and used in different ways. The 49ers have already started doing exactly that.
Raheem Morris had Dugger working as an edge rusher earlier in camp, and the team clearly believed the rookie could handle it despite the lack of experience there. That experiment now looks a lot more serious with Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams both appearing questionable for Week 1.
Inside linebacker was already getting crowded before Jones arrived. Outside of Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw, the 49ers also had Luke Gifford, Tatum Bethune, Nick Martin, and Garrett Wallow in the mix for backup work at the position. Adding Jones only tightens that room even further.
That’s why Dugger looks like the obvious candidate to keep moving outside. The 49ers need pass-rushing help, and with the inside linebacker group packed, his path to snaps seems much clearer on the edge. If the rookie really is as promising as people around the league have suggested, the coaching staff has every reason to put him where he can make an immediate impact.
In that sense, the Jones trade may have answered the question for San Francisco. Dugger doesn’t appear to be part of the inside linebacker plan anymore, and that might be the best outcome for everyone involved. The snaps are available somewhere else, and the 49ers seem ready to make the shift.
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