Shocking NFL Move: Patriots Send Kyle Dugger to Steelers in Unexpected Trade Twist

Well, this one’s a curveball wrapped in a trade frenzy—the Patriots making moves again, this time sending Kyle Dugger, their once-promising safety, packing along with a seventh-round pick to the Steelers. In exchange? A slightly better draft position—a sixth-round choice. A tale of two trades in a single day, with Keion White sliding over to the 49ers earlier, also for a sixth-rounder. Pittsburgh’s secondary has been in flux since parting ways with Minkah Fitzpatrick, so the addition of Dugger, despite his injury setbacks and underwhelming recent on-field snaps, feels like a calculated gamble to plug those gaps. Dugger’s story is far from over—second-round pick turned $58 million contract guy, sidelined by a misdiagnosed ankle injury that’s had him limping through the past season. The Patriots tried to offload him before—but the perfect deal never showed up, until now. This trade might just be one of those subtle shifts that reshapes more than the offseason chatter.

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The Patriots made a second trade of the day, sending safety Kyle Dugger and a seventh-round pick to the Steelers in exchange for a sixth-round choice, according to multiple reports.

Earlier Tuesday, the Patriots sent defensive lineman Keion White and a seventh-round pick to the 49ers for a sixth-round pick.

The Steelers traded safety Minkah Fitzpatrick in the offseason, leaving a hole in their secondary. They lead the NFL in passing yards allowed at 273.3 per game.

The Patriots made Dugger a second-round pick in 2020, and he appeared in 81 games with 69 starts. The team signed him to a four-year, $58 million contract extension in the 2024 offseason. His $9.75 million salary is guaranteed for this season.

Dugger played last season on a high-ankle sprain that went misdiagnosed for almost three months and required tightrope surgery on his right ankle in January.

The Patriots attempted to trade him before the season but couldn’t find a satisfactory deal. Dugger played seven games with four starts this season, totaling 17 tackles.