Cowboys bring in intriguing small-school LB ahead of draft

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Apr 20, 2026 - 06:00
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Cowboys bring in intriguing small-school LB ahead of draft

With just a handful of days remaining before the 2026 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys continue doing their homework on under-the-radar prospects. The club has brought in a wide swath of the upcoming draft class, bringing in prospects ranging from top-5 pick contenders to UDFAs.

This past Wednesday, Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported Dallas has added Louisiana linebacker Jaden Dugger to their 30 pre-draft visits.

A Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania native who started his career at Georgetown, Dugger played safety for two years there. He recorded 58 tackles (35 solo tackles), three sacks, and an interception. nine pass deflections and force fumble in 19 games at the FCS level.

After the 2023 season, he entered the transfer and committed to play for the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns. During the 2024 and 2025 seasons Dugger accumulated more than 2,000 snaps and achieved 162 tackles, including 86 solo tackles, five sacks, two forced fumbles, 12 quarterback pressures, and one interception. In coverage he limited opposing receivers to an average of 9.0 yards per reception, as reported by PFF.

Jaden Dugger Pro day mesurements

HT: 6-foot-4

WT: 242 pounds

Arm length: 35"

40-yard dash : 4.60 seconds

10-yard split: 1.60 seconds

20-yard split: 2.65 seconds

Vertical Jump: 34.5"

Jaden Dugger Scouting Overview

2025 stats: 125 tackles, 64 solo tackles, an interception, a force fumble, and 3 pass deflections

Strengths

Dugger is a dynamic, downhill linebacker with impressive pass-rushing skills, positioning him as a potential future blitzer in sub-packages at the next level. Additionally, his background as a former safety facilitates a smooth transition into coverage and allows him to effectively cover space. His tall frame enables him to stack and shed blockers with ease. Ultimately, he is a hybrid defender who has yet to reach his full potential, as he is still adapting to the linebacker position.

Weaknesses

Despite demonstrating impressive performance as a linebacker in Louisiana, he is still in the process of mastering the position. His film shows he second-guesses himself at times when tackling the ball carrier. Additionally, he is working on improving his ability to recognize blocks. His production primarily came against FCS and Sun Belt competition.

Summary

At the beginning of Dugger's NFL journey, he might primarily be utilized on special teams as a contributor, gradually evolving into more significant roles leveraging his size, speed, and versatility. A spot in the defensive rotation could come sooner rather than later. His playing style aligns perfectly with the contemporary defensive strategies. Ideally, he would excel as a sub-package blitzing linebacker, serving as the ultimate rotational chess piece.

Cowboys Fit: 7th round grade to UDFA

The Cowboys currently have just three linebackers: DeMarvion Overshown, Shemar James, and Justin Barron. Opportunities for as many as three new faces at the position abound. Dugger could be selected in the later rounds or signed as a top undrafted free agent by the Cowboys. His versatility as a former safety turned linebacker under Defensive Coordinator Christian Parker would be ideal. I believe his playing style is well-suited for blitzing and his ability to drop into coverage. This would allow him to be flexible within the defense. If he develops and makes a consistent early impact, there’s no denying that he would have a strong chance of making the roster.

This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Louisiana LB Jaden Dugger brought in for Cowboys visit

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