Because the Patriots haven't had a very impressive roster in recent years, they haven't had many players that teams around the league were clamoring to trade for. They, of course, hoped to trade some of their better players anyway, wanting to add more draft capital to their stock, and that continued with Mike Vrabel this past offseason.
The new regime was willing to do what it took to make the roster what they wanted it to be, which included moving on from longtime fan favorites like David Andrews and Deatrich Wise Jr., and also meant trying to trade others they didn't feel fit their new roster.
The most prominent name on that short trade list was safety Kyle Dugger, who had earned an extension just last year and was consistently part of trade rumors leading up to the start of the season.
He was eventually traded to the Steelers ahead of the deadline in October, and while it might have looked like a good trade at the time, it doesn't look that way now.
Kyle Dugger is making the Patriots regret their decision to trade him this season
The Patriots' second-round pick in 2020 had become a prominent part of their defense over the five years he was part of the team, which earned him an extension last offseason. But a rough 2024 season, plagued by a misdiagnosed injury, hurt his chances of remaining on the roster under Vrabel, and he wasn't able to prove his value to the team with the opportunities he was given.
It inevitably led to the Steelers calling about his availability, who had already signed another former Patriots safety in Jabrill Peppers, and snagged him for just a sixth-round pick.
He has now become an integral part of Pittsburgh's defensive future, having a noteworthy first season that looks like he could have been productive for New England had he stayed put.
Since being traded from the #Patriots to the #Steelers in October, S Kyle Dugger has 32 tackles, 1 INT for a TD, 1 sack and 4 PD’s in 7 games.
— Steelers Network (@SteelersNetwork) December 22, 2025
How would you assess Kyle Dugger’s tenure in a Steelers uniform so far? pic.twitter.com/7K74U7SjVe
Although the Patriots appear to have a young, mostly solid secondary, they could certainly use the kind of performances that Dugger has had for the Steelers this year, especially with some of their starters missing time at different points during the season.
Granted, he hadn't played this well for them in over a year, so it's not outlandish that they felt the need to trade him. But maybe they didn't give him enough time or opportunities to show what he could do in the new defensive scheme.
Instead, he's thriving with a familiar rival, and if he continues to play as well as he has, it's fair to assume he will remain a Steeler for quite some time.