Kyle Dugger Reportedly Traded to Steelers From Patriots for NFL Draft Pick Swap

The Pittsburgh Steelers reportedly acquired safety Kyle Dugger in a trade with the New England Patriots on Tuesday.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Patriots sent Dugger and a future seventh-round draft pick to the Steelers in exchange for a sixth-round pick.

New England is paying most of the $5.4 million that's left on Dugger's original base salary of $9.75 million to complete the trade, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The final two years of his contract have also been wiped out.

Dugger was in the midst of his sixth season in New England prior to the swap, with 81 games and 69 starts under his belt.

The Patriots selected him with a second-round pick in the 2020 NFL draft, gradually blossoming into a starter in their secondary.

They eventually handed Dugger a four-year, $58 million contract extension in April 2024.

He dealt with an ankle injury during his ensuing 2024 campaign before his role decreased in 2025 under new head coach Mike Vrabel, though. Dugger only started in four of his seven appearances this year and was on the field for a mere 43.8 percent of New England's defensive snaps (via Pro Football Reference).

The 29-year-old was inactive during the Patriots' Week 8 win over the Cleveland Browns due to a knee issue.

Dugger recorded 17 tackles across his seven games played this season while allowing a 113.1 passer rating when targeted, according to Pro Football Focus.

The Steelers will be hoping that he can thrive with a change of scenery, as they were in need of help at safety after DeShon Elliott suffered a knee injury that ultimately landed him on injured reserve.

New England was busy on Tuesday, reportedly sending defensive end Keion White and a 2026 seventh-round pick to the San Francisco 49ers for a 2026 sixth-round selection.

As the Patriots attempt to capture their first AFC East crown since 2019, they also added some more draft capital.