The New England Patriots have traded away safety Kyle Dugger to the Pittsburgh Steelers in a move that has left fans and pundits alike scratching their heads. The deal, which was confirmed by NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, sends Dugger and a 2026 seventh-round pick to Pittsburgh in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round pick.
Dugger, who was once considered one of the building blocks of the Patriots' defense, has struggled to carve out a definitive role under new head coach Mike Vrabel. Despite being handed a four-year, $58 million contract extension in April 2024, Dugger found himself relegated to backup duty behind Craig Woodson and Jaylinn Hawkins.
The trade comes as no surprise given Dugger's struggles this preseason and his limited playing time. However, it still marks a significant departure for the Patriots, who had long been built around Dugger's unique combination of speed, size, and coverage skills.
Now, Dugger will be reunited with a Steelers defense that already boasts former Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers. With veteran safety DeShon Elliott placed on injured reserve, Dugger is expected to see increased playing time in Pittsburgh and help anchor the team's secondary.
The trade raises questions about what was going through the minds of the Patriots' front office, who were reportedly selling low on a player with significant upside. While it may not have been a move that will be remembered fondly by Patriots fans, it highlights the complexities of roster management in the NFL and the need to adapt to changing circumstances.
For Dugger, though, this new chapter represents an opportunity to prove himself anew under Vrabel's guidance. With his improved play and leadership qualities, he may just find a new home where he can thrive and make a lasting impact on a team that is hungry for talent.
Dugger, who was once considered one of the building blocks of the Patriots' defense, has struggled to carve out a definitive role under new head coach Mike Vrabel. Despite being handed a four-year, $58 million contract extension in April 2024, Dugger found himself relegated to backup duty behind Craig Woodson and Jaylinn Hawkins.
The trade comes as no surprise given Dugger's struggles this preseason and his limited playing time. However, it still marks a significant departure for the Patriots, who had long been built around Dugger's unique combination of speed, size, and coverage skills.
Now, Dugger will be reunited with a Steelers defense that already boasts former Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers. With veteran safety DeShon Elliott placed on injured reserve, Dugger is expected to see increased playing time in Pittsburgh and help anchor the team's secondary.
The trade raises questions about what was going through the minds of the Patriots' front office, who were reportedly selling low on a player with significant upside. While it may not have been a move that will be remembered fondly by Patriots fans, it highlights the complexities of roster management in the NFL and the need to adapt to changing circumstances.
For Dugger, though, this new chapter represents an opportunity to prove himself anew under Vrabel's guidance. With his improved play and leadership qualities, he may just find a new home where he can thrive and make a lasting impact on a team that is hungry for talent.
the patriots are literally trading away one of their best safeties lol i mean we all knew Dugger's time in pittsburgh was coming to an end but still it hurts to see him go 
the patriots thought they were building around him but it looks like he just wasn't fitting into vrabel's scheme 
on the flip side, duggers getting a new start with steelers defense is legit 
and jabrill peppers is gonna love having another speedy safety to pair up with 
i gotta respect duggers for bouncing back from this though 
he's got the talent, size and speed combo that makes him a top player in the league 
. It seems like they were holding onto Dugger for sentimental reasons more than anything else. And honestly, it's not like the guy was living up to expectations this preseason... I mean, he's been struggling to find a role under Vrabel's system, and now they're just shipping him off to Pittsburgh in exchange for a mid-round pick? It's like they gave up on him already 
. Dugger's gonna get a fresh start with the Steelers, who need a safety with his skillset, so maybe this is actually a good move for him... but still, it's gotta be tough for Pats fans to see their beloved corner go 
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. The Steelers are getting a solid safety in return and it'll be interesting to see how this pairing with Peppers plays out 
. For Dugger, it's a fresh start and he has the talent to make an impact in Pittsburgh 
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Dugger gets another chance to prove himself, but at what cost to his ego? 
Pittsburgh's defense is already stacked with talent and adding a safety like him might just be the icing on the cake... time will tell if it all works out 
... the Pats were basically built around Dugger and now they're just giving him away? 
You'd think they'd try harder to make it work. Did they really think Peppers was going to be enough to fill the void? 
He was always one of my faves 
. I think it's safe to say that Belichick & Co sold low on Dugger 
. What do you guys think about this trade? Do you trust Vrabel to get the best out of Dugger? 
For Dugger, though, this could be a fresh start - time will tell if he can redeem himself in Pittsburgh! 
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. It's like they're giving away valuable assets without getting top-tier return. The Steelers' defense is definitely a good landing spot for Dugger, though - he'll have a chance to shine alongside Jabrill Peppers and help anchor their secondary 
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. It's not about being right or wrong; it's about making the best decision based on your team's needs at that moment 
. The question is, what was driving the front office to make such a move? Were they trying to salvage salary cap space or maybe assessing Dugger's true value 
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anyways i think its cool that he's getting another shot in pittsburgh, maybe vrabel can help him figure out what went wrong in new england 
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. It's all about adapting to changing circumstances in the NFL, but it still stings for Pats fans who were rooting for him 
. Mike Vrabel's gonna have to get creative with his gameplan and find ways to utilize Dugger's strengths 
. And let's not forget, he's reunited with Jabrill Peppers - that's some solid chemistry 
fingers crossed he can make it work! 
now he's gonna be reunited with his BFF jabrill and hopefully finds his way in pittsburgh 
. I guess we'll see how he does in Pittsburgh and if he can prove himself under Vrabel's coaching 
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