Patriots reportedly trade Kyle Dugger to Steelers

Lower than an hour after reportedly dealing Keion White to the 49ers, the Patriots reportedly traded away the crew’s longest-tenured participant in security Kyle Dugger.

According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Patriots are buying and selling each Dugger and a 2026 seventh-round decide to the Pittsburgh Steelers in trade for a 2026 sixth-round decide.

Very similar to the reportedly miniscule return that New England is about to obtain in its commerce involving White (2026 sixth and seventh-round decide), the Patriots are promoting low on a participant in Dugger who struggled to carve out a definitive function in Mike Vrabel’s revamped protection.

A 2020 second-round decide by New England, Dugger was as soon as a foundational piece of the Patriots’ protection throughout each Invoice Belichick and Jerod Mayo’s respective tenures in Foxborough — with New England handing the security a four-year, $58 million contract in April 2024. 

However Dugger slid down the depth chart throughout Vrabel’s first coaching camp in New England this summer time, spending a lot of the preseason logging reps with the crew’s backups. 

“Simply ensuring that he’s the place he must be and understanding the protection ideas and the whole lot we do. Hold working and hold progressing,” Vrabel said of Dugger in August. “A variety of that is that guys have earned the appropriate to have a look with that first unit and, once more, there shall be completely different lineups and various things. Simply give attention to the reps that you just get proper now.”

Given Dugger’s struggles in Vrabel’s scheme, the veteran was topic of a number of commerce rumors main as much as roster cutdown day in late August — however was in the end not dealt. 

“If something, you recognize, I used to be fairly impartial on it. I knew something might occur, in order that’s how I type of the place I stayed,” Dugger said of staying put with the team entering Week 1. “I spent a variety of time with my household, and that was very grounding and humbling, in order that’s type of what I did. I actually wasn’t fascinated by it an excessive amount of.

“I’m getting higher day-after-day. That’s my focus. Serving to the crew as a lot as I can. And being the most effective model of myself as a person, as a frontrunner, and for the fellows round me.”

Though Dugger made the Patriots’ 53-man roster, he served in additional of a backup function behind the likes of rookie Craig Woodson and veteran Jaylinn Hawkins — in the end taking part in in 38.8 p.c of New England’s defensive snaps. 

Dugger will now be part of a Steelers protection that already boasts a former Patriots safety in Jabrill Peppers. Dugger must be due for an elevated function in Pittsburgh, particularly with veteran security DeShon Elliott positioned on injured reserve with a knee damage on Monday. 

Dugger appeared in 81 video games (69 begins) with the Patriots over six seasons, recording 441 whole tackles to associate with 9 interceptions.

 

Conor Ryan is a workers author overlaying the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Pink Sox for Boston.com, a task he has held since 2023.