\u2014 RAS.football (@MathBomb) April 6, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI feel like when I’m playing now is a combination of everything I did, so I feel like that made me such a better player,\u201d Dugger said at pro day<\/a>. \u201cHaving that experience and just playing it. At the time, I might have not liked it, but it prepared me for who I am today.\u201d<\/p>\n He was one of the top standouts<\/a> at the East-West game, especially with his range and instincts in coverage.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was great \u2013 me with a lot of scouts and a lot of new players that you see on TV, finally getting to meet them,\u201d Dugger said at pro day. \u201cThen seeing all the cool logos on the helmets and going against those guys that you don’t get to play against, so it was a great experience. I feel like I learned so much and I got so much better.\u201d<\/p>\n Still, it wasn\u2019t enough to get invited to the Scouting Combine.<\/p>\n \u201cNo Combine and stuff, that kind of lit an extra fire under me,\u201d he told CBS Pittsburgh<\/a>. \u201cI think I proved myself. A lot of scouts were like, \u2018You\u2019re not a Combine invite?\u2019 But everything\u2019s going to play out how it should be. If you deserve to be in the NFL, they\u2019ll come find you.\u201d<\/p>\n Jaden Dugger\u2019s Path to the Draft Missouri Tigers quarterback Beau Pribula (9) is sacked by Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin Cajuns linebacker Jaden Dugger. | Denny Medley-Imagn Images<\/p>\n Dugger scored 13 touchdowns as a senior at Penn Hills \u2013 his brother, Julian, was his quarterback; he is a backup at Washington State.<\/p>\n Jaden Dugger waited for big-school opportunities that never came his way, so he settled on Georgetown \u2013 a school known for basketball and academics. After earning second-team all-conference in 2023, he had to make a decision.<\/p>\n Academics or try to position himself for an NFL career.<\/p>\n He got that opportunity at Louisiana and went right to work on getting bigger, faster and stronger.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not hard because you get all the resources you need,\u201d Dugger told Trib Live in 2024<\/a>. \u201cThey give you your meals and the nutritional goals and goal weight to help cut body fat. Nutrition is the most important part of the game people don\u2019t look at.\u201d<\/p>\n Dugger hit the ground running for the Cajuns, making the position change to linebacker look easy.<\/p>\n Louisiana Linebacker Jaden Dugger!!!\ud83d\udea8\ud83d\udea8\ud83d\udea8<\/p>\n – Very underrated linebacker \u2014 Linebackers University\u2122 (@Linebackers_U) February 7, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s a natural pass rusher, which is unbelievable,\u201d coach Michael Desormeaux said<\/a> during fall camp in 2024 \u201cHe has it, he\u2019s worked hard at it. He\u2019s extremely physical. He sets the edge and uses his length well. He just does things really naturally that are just way ahead of the curve.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought he\u2019d be able to play \u201812 Sam\u2019 only, and he\u2019d be able to go out there and kind of play the edge and play the quarterback \u2013 just thinking it\u2019s going to take him a couple years to develop that skill-set.\u201d<\/p>\n Potential Fit With Packers<\/p>\n Green Bay is a strong at linebacker. When Jonathan Gannon lines up in his base 3-4 defense, only two linebackers will be required. The Packers have Edgerrin Cooper, Zaire Franklin, Isaiah McDuffie and Ty\u2019Ron Hopper, plus special-teamers Nick Niemann and Kristian Welch.<\/p>\n So, making the team \u2013 and making an impact \u2013 won\u2019t be easy, regardless of whether they pick a linebacker in the third round or a player like Dugger with a late-round pick or in undrafted free agency.<\/p>\n However, Dugger\u2019s size and versatility hints of some intriguing possibilities.<\/p>\n During his first season at Louisiana, according to PFF, he played 152 snaps on the edge, 98 as an off-the-ball linebacker and 66 in the slot. During his breakout final season, he played 798 snaps as an off-the-ball linebacker and 95 snaps elsewhere.<\/p>\n A player like Dugger could join Cooper and Franklin on the field to give the Packers 4-3 personnel on the field. He then could move to the line of scrimmage to play 3-4 outside linebacker.\u00a0<\/p>\n Packers Predraft Visits<\/p>\n Championship running back<\/a> | All-American defensive tackle<\/a> | Big-play receiver<\/a> | Tough-as-nails QB<\/a> | A top running back<\/a> | 99th percentile corner<\/a> | Rising Big Ten blocker<\/a> | Walk-on to NFL<\/a> | Round 3 pass rusher<\/a> | Hard-hitting linebacker<\/a> | Round 3 receiver<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Missouri](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/01knkwzewmb82rt5rj3v.jpg\" "\\"Missouri")
<\/p>\n
– Hidden Gem
– Great overall linebacker
– He can do it all!
– Very good athlete
– Great speed
– Great in coverage
– Great in the box
– Great tackler
– Big play maker, game changer!
– Field general\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/rOtul0gv9O<\/a><\/p>\n