The San Francisco 49ers continue searching aggressively for hidden defensive talent as the organization prepares for OTAs and another Super Bowl push under head coach Kyle Shanahan.
Following major defensive coaching changes this offseason, San Francisco has continued evaluating versatile defenders capable of fitting multiple roles inside new defensive coordinator Raheem Morris’ evolving defensive system.
One name generating growing intrigue around league circles is Dasan McCullough — a rare hybrid linebacker prospect whose athletic ceiling has fascinated scouts for years.
At 6-foot-5 and approximately 240 pounds, McCullough immediately stands out because of his rare combination of length, explosiveness, speed, and positional versatility.
League observers believe his physical profile alone makes him one of the most fascinating developmental defensive sleepers entering NFL offseason programs.
What makes McCullough especially dangerous is his ability to operate in multiple defensive roles within modern defensive schemes.
He can line up as an outside linebacker, drop comfortably into pass coverage, or attack quarterbacks aggressively as a situational EDGE rusher.
That flexibility could give San Francisco another potential blitz weapon capable of disguising pressure packages and confusing opposing offenses before the snap.
Several analysts believe Raheem Morris’ adaptable defensive philosophy could maximize McCullough’s hybrid traits if his development continues progressing properly during offseason workouts.
The 49ers have already focused heavily on adding defensive-line versatility this offseason, including the additions of players like Osa Odighizuwa, Romello Height, and Gracen Halton.
Adding another athletic chess piece like McCullough could quietly become one of the most intriguing under-the-radar moves of the offseason.
McCullough also arrives with an impressive football pedigree.
He is the son of Deland McCullough, a respected NFL coach and Super Bowl champion whose influence helped shape Dasan’s football instincts from an early age.
Before entering college football, McCullough ranked among the nation’s elite defensive recruits and became one of the highest-rated defensive prospects in Indiana history.
He originally starred at Indiana before later transferring to Oklahoma while continuing to develop against elite competition.
Although injuries and scheme transitions occasionally slowed portions of his development, scouts consistently remained fascinated by his long-term pass-rushing upside and athletic ceiling.
That is exactly why organizations continue viewing McCullough as a potential “diamond in the rough” entering NFL development programs.
Still, development remains critical moving forward.
McCullough must continue adding strength, refining his hand technique, and adjusting physically to the demands of NFL trench play consistently.
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For San Francisco, however, this represents exactly the type of low-risk, high-upside defensive gamble championship organizations often pursue quietly before training camp begins.
And if McCullough ultimately reaches his full potential, the 49ers could uncover one of the most dangerous defensive sleepers from the entire 2026 undrafted free agent class.
