Throughout the summer, there were countless rumors about the most tradeable players who would likely be dealt before the season began, the most prominent of which included Kyle Dugger. The longtime starter had fallen down the depth chart from a disastrous 2024 season, and his inability to bounce back to impress the new coaching staff made him a primary trade candidate before making the 53-man roster.
Because he was given a chance to prove them wrong, Dugger took the field for almost every game this season so far, but after another injury setback, Mike Vrabel and Co. traded him to the Steelers on Tuesday, officially ending his tenure as a starter in New England.
It was immediately considered the right move, even if the team had given him a contract extension just over a year ago, and he was quickly replaced with a rookie safety signed from the Dolphins' practice squad.
John Saunders Jr. was a player the new regime had a pre-draft meeting with earlier this year, and might have picked him, but he went undrafted and signed a fully guaranteed deal with Miami's practice squad. His impressive college career, however, made him an easy target to sign after Dugger's trade, and now the Patriots might have a superstar in the making in their new addition.
The Patriots are quick to bring in a notable replacement after Kyle Dugger's trade
With Dugger's position on the team far from solidified this year, the Patriots have experimented with different lineups by giving their younger players a chance to earn the starting role moving forward. So far, Jaylinn Hawkins has been the most impressive, especially after the one-handed interception he recorded last week against the Browns.
And now, they'll have Saunders to test out as soon as this week against the Falcons, and based on what he accomplished during his college years, there's a good chance he will be exactly what they hoped Dugger could have been.
Between his time at Ole Miss and Miami (Ohio), Saunders racked up 11 interceptions returned for 93 yards and a touchdown. He was a proven ballhawk throughout his five-year career, and hopefully, he can bring that to the NFL, specifically now with the Patriots.
He has a good opportunity to prove himself during the second half of the season and potentially earn the starting role that Dugger is leaving behind. It won't be easy, as we've seen Hawkins rise over the last two months.
But based on the tape and the fact he was a highly-touted player going into this year's draft, Saunders' potential is sky high, and this could turn out to be another massive win for the Patriots in short order.