The San Francisco 49ers are getting real early return on two Day 3 picks, and Sports Illustrated’s Justin Melo has already put both rookies on his list of steals from the 2026 NFL draft.
Defensive tackle Gracen Halton and linebacker Jaden Dugger have each carved out meaningful roles on a defense that has helped push San Francisco to a 6-0 start. That kind of impact this quickly is exactly why both players are drawing attention.
Halton, taken in the fourth round at No. 107 overall out of Oklahoma, has delivered the kind of disruptive snaps that jump out on film and show up in the box score. Through six games, he has 15 tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble that he recovered for a touchdown.
He’s become part of the 49ers’ defensive line rotation, and Melo described him this way: "San Francisco 49ers rookie defensive tackle Gracen Halton is playing a high-level rotational role for a 6-0 team. Halton is a quick-footed interior defender with explosiveness.
He's consistently getting off blocks and making plays."
Dugger has brought similar value in a different way. The fifth-round pick at No. 154 overall out of Louisiana has stacked up 28 tackles, one sack and one tackle for loss while logging 211 defensive snaps. He’s earned time alongside Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw, giving the 49ers another presence in the middle of the defense.
That middle has been awfully sturdy so far. San Francisco has allowed just 110 points through six games, which ranks fourth-fewest in the NFL, and opponents have managed only 4.7 yards per play.
For a team getting that level of defensive production, contributions from two rookies picked outside the first three rounds stand out fast. Halton and Dugger have done more than fill space - they’ve given the 49ers real snaps, real stops and real reasons to believe they found value in the draft.
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