New England Patriots
A change of surroundings may benefit the 2 gamers within the instructed swap.
The NFL’s Nov. 4 commerce deadline is rapidly approaching.
There have but to be any experiences truly connecting the Patriots to gamers and potential offers, however the workforce has been named in a number of commerce proposals by NFL writers.
Many insiders have instructed that New England ought to commerce for working backs such because the New York Jets’ Breece Hall or the New Orleans Saints’ Alvin Kamara, two examples of elite RBs who would doubtless come at a big value.
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell as a substitute proposed a commerce between the Patriots and Houston Texans by which the groups swap lower-level gamers in security Kyle Dugger and RB Dameon Pierce.
Dugger was demoted from his beginning function in August partly as a result of an ankle harm, a place he had held since being drafted by New England and then-head coach Invoice Belichick in 2020. The 29-year-old cross defender inked a four-year, $58 million contract extension underneath Jerod Mayo’s regime in April 2024. The deal was deserved as he made a reputation for himself as a core a part of the Patriots’ protection over time.
If the Patriots do commerce Dugger, they’ll virtually definitely need to eat among the cash remaining on his contract. Barnwell explains that in his proposal, New England would fork over $5 million of his wage for 2025.
Regardless of New England’s reported attempts at buying and selling Dugger forward of roster cutdown day again in August, he made the 53-man roster and has performed in a restricted function all season.
The shocking launch of Jabrill Peppers helped maintain Dugger on the roster and in video games this season, however as Barnwell explains, the Patriots clearly don’t wish to play him “except it’s completely obligatory.” For instance, he performed one hundred pc of defensive snaps in opposition to the Saints final week solely as a result of Jaylinn Hawkins was out as a result of a hamstring harm.
Versus the Buffalo Payments in Week 5, Dugger performed only one defensive snap and 6 particular groups snaps.
“Dugger’s not that far faraway from being a precious participant for Invoice Belichick in New England, although, and whereas the 29-year-old’s beforehand elite traits may need slipped after an ankle harm, there are simply too many groups in want of assist at security,” Barnwell wrote. “… I’m undecided they actually belief him to be on the sector in video games that matter except it’s completely obligatory.”
Given Dugger’s lack of taking part in time and that New England tried dealing him simply a few months in the past, it is sensible to swap him to a safety-needy workforce just like the Texans in change for a RB to exchange Antonio Gibson. Gibson tore his ACL in opposition to the Payments.
The instructed return for Dugger in Pierce is a 25-year-old who was drafted by Houston within the fourth spherical of the 2022 NFL Draft. The 5’10” again has performed simply two video games this season and has been a wholesome scratch 3 times.
In Pierce’s profession, he’s averaging 41.9 dashing yards per sport and has scored eight touchdowns on the bottom. He was a pass-catching again in 2022 and ‘23, however hasn’t been utilized that approach since.
The proposed swap is a low-risk transfer that might doubtless profit all events. Dugger would get extra taking part in time and obtain a change of surroundings, and the identical might be stated for Pierce. Plus, the Patriots and Texans would every fill a big gap that opened as a result of accidents.
Join Patriots updates🏈
Get breaking information and evaluation delivered to your inbox throughout soccer season.
