Kyle Dugger would have qualified as a “surprise cut” before Patriots training camp, but that might no longer be the case.
The veteran safety, who is the second-highest-paid player on the team and was elevated to captain last season, has tumbled down the depth chart. Dugger on Monday took the practice field after fellow strong safety Jabrill Peppers, free safety Jaylinn Hawkins and even 2025 fourth-rounder Craig Woodson, as shared by Phil Perry and Tom E. Curran during the Patriots Talk podcast.
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The reduced role has Boston Sports Journal’s Greg Bedard believing New England could release Dugger as it trims its 53-man roster before Aug. 27.
“I don’t think that the Patriots are going to be able to find a taker for his contract,” Bedard said when he appeared on Early Edition on Tuesday night. “They may have to eat some money, which the Patriots don’t really like to do. I think at some point, depending on if there’s any injuries, he’ll be here through the end of the preseason.
“But I could see a scenario where he’s released and they eat the dead money,” Bedard continued. “Now is the time to do it when they have $60 million in cap space. If there are any contracts they don’t like from the previous regime — I think Michael Onwenu is all right, I think he’s shown that he’s earning it — but Kyle Dugger, $14.5 million a year? Nope, not cutting it.”
Dugger signed a four-year, $58 million contract last offseason after the Patriots used their transition tag on the 2020 second-round pick. However, that was before an injury greatly hindered his production in the defensive backfield. It also was before head coach Mike Vrabel and front office executives John Streicher and Ryan Cowden arrived in New England.
Ultimately, it could lead to Dugger packing his bags and looking for a new home in the NFL.
