Former Patriots safety Kyle Dugger is gearing up to become a free agent this offseason, and he might be on the lookout for a new team.
Midway through the past season, New England traded Dugger to the Pittsburgh Steelers, along with a 2026 seventh-round pick, in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round pick.
Dugger played in nine games for the Steelers, but Fox Sports’ Greg Auman predicted that Dugger would leave Pittsburgh after just half a season and sign with the Washington Commanders this offseason.
“Dugger, 29, was jettisoned from the Patriots’ defense in a pick swap as part of their 2025 turnaround, landing with the Steelers and voiding the last two years of a four-year, $58 million deal,” Auman wrote on Saturday. “He started nine games in Pittsburgh with two interceptions, one returned for a touchdown, so the question is what fraction of his old salary will he draw on the open market? A new coach in Pittsburgh means there isn’t an obvious landing spot for Dugger, a low-risk rebound signing.”
Dugger played in 90 games for New England across five and a half seasons, starting 78 of those contests. The Patriots seemed poised to part ways with Dugger as early as training camp, but it wasn’t until October that they found the right deal for him.
The Commanders would be a great fit for Dugger, as Washington should be on the lookout for defensive back assistance. He could be brought in on a budget, considering Spotrac recently estimated his market value at $5.9 million per season.
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