One of the biggest priorities that Eliot Wolf and Jerod Mayo talked about this offseason was trying to ensure the New England Patriots prioritized keeping their own players as they build their roster.
On Sunday, it appears they finally got a key one signed.
According to Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald, the Patriots finally reached an extension with safety Kyle Dugger, with Dugger and the club reportedly agreeing to a 4-year, $58 million deal which could be worth up to $66 million, including $32.5 million guaranteed.
This news comes off recent reports of Dugger being unhappy having received the transition tag this offseason. That would have seen him earn just over $13 million in 2024, but more importantly, it gave New England the right of first refusal for any offer Dugger may have received elsewhere.
Had another team put an offer in for Dugger’s services and had the Patriots let him go, they also would have received no compensation.
Instead, they keep one of their more productive young defensive players in the fold for the foreseeable future. Dugger finished last season as the team’s second-leading tackler, totaling 109 tackles, including 71 solo, along with 1.5 sacks, 5 QB hits, and six tackles for a loss. He also added two interceptions and seven passes defended, with the latter total tying him with Jonathan Jones and Myles Bryant. Jabril Peppers led the team in that category with 8 in 2023.
Dugger also becomes the first and only player signed through 2027, with the former Lenoir–Rhyne standout now hopefully a little happier as voluntary workouts are set to open up for the players on Monday, April 8th, at Gillette Stadium.
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Ian Logue is a Seacoast native and owner and senior writer for PatsFans.com, an independent media site covering the New England Patriots and has been running this site in one form or another since 1997.
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