(Photo Credit: NBC Sports)
The New England Patriots agree to a four-year contract extension with safety Kyle Dugger, according to a report from ESPN on Sunday.
The deal carries a base value of $58 million, with the potential to reach $66 million, including $32 million guaranteed, according to insider reports.
Dugger’s new contract averages $14.5 million annually.
Transition Tag Situation
Dugger received the transition tag from the team last month, which restricted his free agency. If he had played the 2024 season under the tag, he would have earned $13.8 million, equivalent to the average salary of the top 10 players in his position.
In the past 10 years, only five NFL players have received the transition tag, none of whom were safeties.
This agreement coincides with the Patriots’ commencement of their voluntary offseason program this week, as coach Jerod Mayo and director of scouting Eliot Wolf work towards nurturing a culture that prioritizes rewarding homegrown talents drafted and developed by the team.
Dugger’s NFL Journey
Dugger, 28, entered the NFL as the Patriots’ second-round pick in 2020, holding the team’s highest selection that year at No. 37, following a trade out of the first round. As a rookie from Division II Lenoir-Rhyne, he showcased his worth with solid tackling and a tough playing style.
In the 2023 season, Dugger achieved a career-high 109 tackles while sharing the team lead with two interceptions. His exceptional performance saw him logging 98% of defensive snaps, surpassing all other defenders—a testament to his immense value to the team.
Notably, in 2022, Dugger became the first Patriots defender since 1970 to score three touchdowns in a single season.
Former Patriots coach Bill Belichick valued Dugger’s ability to adapt and although he’s best suited to play closer to the line of scrimmage in a flexible defensive scheme, the team confidently used him more in the deep part of the field in 2023, alongside veteran safety Jabrill Peppers.
Throughout his career, Dugger has amassed 343 tackles and 9 interceptions.
