Throughout most of the offseason, there has been a lot of talk surrounding the future, or lack thereof, for veteran safety Kyle Dugger in New England. It was a wild turn of events for the longtime starter, as he had become a superstar at the position over the last few years.
That production earned him a contract extension last offseason, making his rapid decline during the following season that much more concerning. From being considered among the best in the league to quickly becoming a liability on the field, Dugger became more of a problem for the Patriots' defense than the usual game-changer.
We later found out he dealt with a misdiagnosed injury that impacted his game. However, he underwent surgery at the start of the offseason to fix the issue, yet his performance throughout the summer didn't improve much. He shined in two of the preseason games, which put him back on the radar to make the roster, only for the Patriots to try and trade him before the roster cut deadline.
Reports indicate they were still on the phone in the minutes leading to the announcement of the 53-man roster for the 2025 season, but to no avail.
Source: #Patriots S Kyle Dugger is staying in New England on the 53-man roster.
— Andrew Callahan (@_AndrewCallahan) August 26, 2025
The front office had trade talks with multiple teams, but was not close on a deal as of this morning. pic.twitter.com/rhZFSVoqZY
Instead, Dugger has made the roster for the season, with uncertainty surrounding his future with the team long-term.
Kyle Dugger makes the Patriots initial roster, but that might not last
Within the rumors about Dugger's future in New England, there have been reports of teams expressing interest, with his current contract making them hesitant to make a move. The Patriots have made it beyond clear that they'd like to trade him, so they're probably willing to accept almost anything, but they can't change the contract he was given by the previous regime.
That could ultimately become an obstacle they can't overcome, forcing them to keep Dugger on the team for the entirety of the 2025 season.
The #Patriots got multiple trade offers for safety Kyle Dugger, per source, but his $9.75M guaranteed salary - and how much of it New England would absorb - was a hurdle. For now, he remains on 53-man roster. pic.twitter.com/n6r13nEB98
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) August 26, 2025
Based on his most recent performances in the preseason, it might not be a terrible idea, as he impressed fans and coaches with his production, despite playing nearly the entire four quarters.
He could still be a key part of their defensive effort, as long as he can revert to the player he was during the 2023 season. If he plays anything like he did last year, there's good reason to believe players like Jaylinn Hawkins, Marcus Jones, and Dell Pettus will see the field a lot more.
That won't help the team's effort in trading him, either. So it looks like it could be a lose/lose situation for everyone.