PatsFans.com Menu
PatsFans.com - The Hub For New England Patriots Fans
PatsFans.com - The Hub For New England Patriots Fans

Dugger not running with the starters

Next Opp: TBD
THE HUB FOR PATRIOTS FANS SINCE 2000

CURRENT POPULAR DISCUSSIONS:
Our Defense is NOT Loaded; our BACKUPS are weak.
Posted By: mgteich
July 08, 2026 at 11:34 am
Total Replies: 297

# Of Users:40
mgteich40yrpatsfanTriumphcaptain stoneWater BoystinkypeteZumaDaBruinzPatsWickedPissahp8rytspatfanken
Vrabel and his wife attend the wedding!
Posted By: mgteich
July 08, 2026 at 11:25 am
Total Replies: 57

# Of Users:32
mgteichDarrylStuckeverlastingTriumphHypedTunescribectpatsfan77Clonameryp8rytsPATSNUTmeborisman
TODAY'S MOST REACTED POSTS:
upstater1OT: The 2026 World Cup Thread
4 Reactions
07/07 at 8:28 pm

By: upstater1

Ice_Ice_BradyCeltics 2026-2027 Discussion
3 Reactions
07/08 at 9:59 am

By: Ice_Ice_Brady

TODAY'S TOP POSTERS:#
mayoclinic13 posts
Clonamery7 posts
jmt575 posts
captain stone4 posts
One-If-By-Sea4 posts
 

Kyle Dugger's 2025 status will be

  • Dugger makes the team, and starts

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Dugger makes the team, but becomes a reserve

    Votes: 3 9.1%
  • Dugger makes the team, then is traded

    Votes: 2 6.1%
  • Dugger is traded prior to Aug 26 cutdown

    Votes: 10 30.3%
  • Dugger will be cut

    Votes: 8 24.2%
  • Dugger will be contemplating how and why RLKAG

    Votes: 10 30.3%

  • Total voters
    33
  • Poll closed .
Status
Not open for further replies.
I mean... I might have ranted... that's on brand, but I don't recall it. I don't have a real dog in this hunt. If he's here, fine, if he's not, fine. I get that Vrabel is really purging the old blood, so I am kinda on the IMVWT program right now.
 
We got that for wannabe starter Milton or was it a 6th? So you saying we don't get anything for veterans that have had some productive seasons? Dugger was not to long ago regarded as a top 15 safety, Jennings is amongst the top edge setters in the game? I say a 5th.. you and @Steve102 have to consider that...
Did someone have to pay Milton $10M? Of course not,

Whoever trades for Dugger will pay him over $10M for his 2025 play.

If we truly don't want him, it is we who should give up a 6th and Dugger for a 2028 7th.
 
Last edited:


How did I get dragged into this? Did I comment on this some where and forget?
Sorry steve.. friendly fire..
 
The reason to cut him is to keep a player who projects to be more impactful on the game day roster.
I don't think that our player 53 would be more valuable than Dugger. Besides, keeping him gives us a chance to trade him in a month when teams have greater needs.
 
I don't think that our player 53 would be more valuable than Dugger. Besides, keeping him gives us a chance to trade him in a month when teams have greater needs.
Unless dugger flat out sucks and is probably done as a NFL player.
 
I don't think that our player 53 would be more valuable than Dugger. Besides, keeping him gives us a chance to trade him in a month when teams have greater needs.
In theory, that's logical but as it pertains to Dugger there are two angles to his "value". There is value on game day to the Patriots and there is market value.

His market value sucks. Even when they applied the transition tag to him when he was producing there were crickets. They'd be lucky to get a 6th or a 7th for him now.

As I said in subsequent post, it depends on how frequently the player plays and his role on the team. Right now it seems Dugger has a very limited role on D and there are other younger players ahead of him on core special teams and defense.
 
A little more detail and context from Jordan Schultz:

 
In theory, that's logical but as it pertains to Dugger there are two angles to his "value". There is value on game day to the Patriots and there is market value.

His market value sucks. Even when they applied the transition tag to him when he was producing there were crickets. They'd be lucky to get a 6th or a 7th for him now.

As I said in subsequent post, it depends on how frequently the player plays and his role on the team. Right now it seems Dugger has a very limited role on D and there are other younger players ahead of him on core special teams and defense.
A 6th or 7th would be huge. Someone would pick up his contract. Are you saying that no one would take a 6th to take his contract?
 
A 6th or 7th would be huge. Someone would pick up his contract. Are you saying that no one would take a 6th to take his contract?
I'm saying because of his contract and sub-par 2024 performance, the NEP would be very fortunate to get anything in a trade.
 
I'm saying because of his contract and sub-par 2024 performance, the NEP would be very fortunate to get anything in a trade.
I'm suggesting that we should consider GIVING a 6th AND Dugger for a 2027 7th.
 
Did someone have to pay Milton $10M? Of course not,

Whoever trades for Dugger will pay him over $10M for his 2025 play.

If we truly don't want him, it is we who should give up a 6th and Dugger for a 2028 7th.
Why would we give up a player who's been productive, a veteran at that for 6th and 7th.. Dugger still has value for a team he's not a scheme fit here.
 
I'm saying because of his contract and sub-par 2024 performance, the NEP would be very fortunate to get anything in a trade.
The return would be greater, IMO, if they ate some of his salary. I know you know more about the $$ on these guys than me, but that seems like the way to go.
 
The return would be greater, IMO, if they ate some of his salary. I know you know more about the $$ on these guys than me, but that seems like the way to go.
I agree. If I were another GM that is exactly what I would ask the Pats to do.
 
Besides, keeping him gives us a chance to trade him in a month when teams have greater needs.
Chance perhaps, but given we're talking about an aging box safety with a big contract coming off an injury, I'd say that chance is small.

If another team finds themselves in need of a safety they can either trade for another team's backup, or take someone off another team's practice squad and put that player on their roster, or issue a tryout for recently cut FA safeties and see if they find someone that they can use.

I understand the value of a top-notch safety, but here I feel we're talking about a replacement-level safety given how most teams use the safety position these days.

Why would we give up a player who's been productive, a veteran at that for 6th and 7th.. Dugger still has value for a team he's not a scheme fit here.

Because teams don't pay for past production, or at least they shouldn't.

A little more detail and context from Jordan Schultz:



Note the part about the Pats needing to eat some money to even have a conversation.

To me this sounds like the prototypical cap casualty: We like him, but not at this price.

It sucks for the player. For the team, he'll just be one of over a thousand players being cut on cut-down day so it can be pitched as an "unfortunate business decision". The fact he's still on the field at the end of the first two pre-season games is a pretty strong sign of what their intentions are.

On NFL cutdown day, each team must reduce their active roster from 90 to 53 players. This means that a total of 37 players per team will be cut, with over 1,100 players being released league-wide according to Bleacher Report and Sports Illustrated.
 
Chance perhaps, but given we're talking about an aging box safety with a big contract coming off an injury, I'd say that chance is small.

If another team finds themselves in need of a safety they can either trade for another team's backup, or take someone off another team's practice squad and put that player on their roster, or issue a tryout for recently cut FA safeties and see if they find someone that they can use.

I understand the value of a top-notch safety, but here I feel we're talking about a replacement-level safety given how most teams use the safety position these days.



Because teams don't pay for past production, or at least they shouldn't.



Note the part about the Pats needing to eat some money to even have a conversation.

To me this sounds like the prototypical cap casualty: We like him, but not at this price.

It sucks for the player. For the team, he'll just be one of over a thousand players being cut on cut-down day so it can be pitched as an "unfortunate business decision". The fact he's still on the field at the end of the first two pre-season games is a pretty strong sign of what their intentions are.
Agreed. The injury habe comprised Dugger he told Phil Perry that his injury was misdiagnosed last season by the teams staff. This should not he a suprise to anyone everything was misdiagnosed last season... so in turn he had have surgery for the ankle. This has severely affected his game. Dugger is a down hill, box safety he could thrive in that role. He still is useful. However a player who's younger, plays a more impactful position like Jennings could net more in trade compensation. I could see the team doing a injury settlement with Dugger should no team trade for him. He has been a great locker room guy and he was a good player for this organization.
 
I agree. If I were another GM that is exactly what I would ask the Pats to do.
IMO it's unlikely a team's going to take Dugger coming off a down season, his cap hit, and a major ankle surgery.. at age 29.. feeling like it may come down to the team and he doing a injury settlement?
 
I don't think that our player 53 would be more valuable than Dugger. Besides, keeping him gives us a chance to trade him in a month when teams have greater needs.
As we know his salary is the roadblock.. as for Jennings his position on the edge as we have plenty of guys ahead of him that offer more versatility.. Jones, Ponder, Swinson for example all younger guys with upside..
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

PatsFans.com LinkHub

Sean Payton's second chance: Inside the Denver Broncos' Super Bowl quest
Interesting Article (Sports)
espn.com · by Ian
1d
𝕏 / Tweet
twitter.com: Wilfork Highlight Reel
Patriots Videos
twitter.com · by ctpatsfan77
1d
𝕏 / Tweet
twitter.com
Interesting Article (Sports)
twitter.com · by raduray
1d
📰
📰 Article
Terrion Arnold clears waivers despite interest from teams
NFL News
prideofdetroit.com · by mayoclinic
1d
📰
📰 Article
Drake Maye got swallowed up by the moment, and the Super Bowl setback left him in tears
Patriots Commentary
nytimes.com · by TheRainMaker
1d
▶ YouTube
Super Bowl 36: “I still can’t believe the middle of the field was so wide open.”
Patriots Classic Videos
youtube.com · by Ian
2d
📰 Article
media0.giphy.com
Uncategorized
media0.giphy.com · by PATSNUTme
2d
📰
📰 Article
Patriots DC Zak Kuhr's Motivation Stems From Two Important Things
Interesting Article (Sports)
si.com · by mayoclinic
5d
MORSE: Patriots Position Analysis: Defensive Line
Patriots News 07-05, Positions That Still Need More Depth
MORSE: Patriots Position Breakdown, QBs and Tight Ends
Patriots News 06-28: Romeo Doubs The Patriots X Factor?
MORSE: Patriots Position Breakdown – RB
Patriots News 06-20: The Not-So-Ideal Jacas Situation
MORSE: Looking At Patriots Wide Receiver Room and Gabe Jacas Mess
Key Questions Remain After Patriots Mini Camp: Little Margin For Error at Several Positions
Patriots News 06-14, Patriots Wrap Up Spring Workouts
Patriots Rookie Lomu Reveals “Weird” First Days at Right Tackle
Back
Top