Sportsnaut
The New England Patriots were busy on Tuesday night. First, news broke that the team was trading edge-rusher Keion White to the San Francisco 49ers.
Then, NFL insider Adam Schefter reported that the team was also trading veteran safety Kyle Dugger and a 7th-round pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a 6th-round pick.
Trade: New England is sending safety Kyle Dugger and a 7th-round pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for a 6th-round pick, per sources.
This is New England’s second trade today. It also sent edge Keion White and a 7th-round pick to the 49ers for a 6th-round pick. pic.twitter.com/gCxRkMq0Lp
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 28, 2025
This news is likely not surprising to anyone who pays attention to the Patriots. Just today, Schefter said that he “would bet” on Dugger being moved before the deadline. Dugger has been floated in trade rumors for months now, and it was a bit surprising that a deal wasn’t done before the season started.
Many didn’t expect Dugger to be on the initial roster, but the team decided to keep Dugger around and part with Jabrill Peppers instead. However, rookie Craig Woodson and veteran Jaylinn Hawkins have impressed enough this season that the team clearly felt comfortable moving on from the veteran.
Not only do the Patriots move up a round late in the draft, but they also get some more financial breathing room. Dugger had the third-highest salary on the team behind Mike Onwenu and Christian Barmore, and it doesn’t appear like the team will eat any additional salary.
Coincidentally, the Steelers are also the team that Peppers went to earlier this season. The Steelers needed more safety depth as Peppers, Juan Thornhill, and Chuck Clark are the only currently healthy bodies at the position.
So far in 2025, Dugger has played in seven games and has 17 tackles. Pro Football Focus gives Dugger a 58.0 grade for his performance thus far.
With White and Dugger gone, the Patriots have two open roster spots and some additional financial flexibility. Could the team be gearing up for a bigger move? Or is the team simply shedding players not in the long-term plans to build up draft capital for the offseason?
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