New England is offloading players from its previous administration.
The Patriots are trading safety Kyle Dugger and a 2026 seventh-round pick to the Steelers in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round pick, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported.
Dugger is the second player the Pats reportedly traded on Tuesday night, with Pelissero previously reporting that New England is sending defensive end Keion White to the 49ers in a similar trade.
Although there was finally some movement in the tea leaves since training camp, when Dugger was demoted to the second team in Mike Vrabel’s first preseason as head coach, it’s still a quick turnaround for a 2020 second-round safety.
He signed a four-year, $66 million contract extension in April 2024, suggesting he was locked into a future roaming the Patriots secondary, but that was under a different coaching staff. Dugger has started just four of seven games for a Vrabel-led New England defense that currently ranks fourth in points allowed; he has 17 tackles and little else on the stat sheet.
He’s been a solid player throughout his career, though, amassing 441 tackles, nine interceptions (two returned for touchdowns), 3.5 sacks and three forced fumbles in 81 games.
His playmaking ability is exactly what Pittsburgh needs as the Steelers struggle with injuries and a poor defense.
The Black and Gold sit atop the AFC North at 4-3, but Mike Tomlin’s squad is reeling of late, having lost two straight games in which they combined for 68 points. Safety DeShon Elliott suffered a knee strain in the team’s Week 9 loss to the Packers and is on the bench, according to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport, so signing Dugger gives Pittsburgh a potential backup for now and great depth whenever Elliott can return.
A week away from the Nov. 4 trade deadline, the Steelers are making moves to continue their push for their first division title since the 2020 season.