Super Bowl helmet.
Former New England Patriots safety Kyle Dugger signed a one-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday morning. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported this.
The Patriots traded Dugger at the end of October last year. He was able to play at a high level for the Pittsburgh Steelers upon his arrival. The playmaker recorded 42 tackles and two interceptions in just nine regular-season games with the team. He made several big plays along the way, including a 73-yard interception return against the Bengals in week 11.
Now, he is staying in the AFC North and looks to help a struggling Bengals defense.
Former Steelers free-agent safety Kyle Dugger is signing a one-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals, per his agent Drew Rosenhaus. pic.twitter.com/S1psSkF8J9
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 2, 2026
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Dugger Had Storied Career With Patriots
Dugger was selected 37th overall in the 2020 NFL draft. He immediately made an impact as a rookie, recording 64 combined tackles and starting in seven games. The future was bright for him, and he continued his high level of play into the 2021 season. That year, he recorded a career-high for interceptions in 15 games.
2022 saw him lead the NFL with three defensive touchdowns in a single season, and he was able to parlay that into a productive 2023 campaign that saw him record a career-high 109 combined tackles.
2024 was a mixed bag of results. He received a contract extension that April, which was thought to be the right move given his performance. However, he suffered an ankle injury in week four against the San Francisco 49ers. This caused him to play in pain for much of the year.
2025 was a big rebound year. He was able to replace the injured DeShawn Elliott following the trade to Pittsburgh and became a playmaker for the Steelers. He was able to fit into the Steelers defense nicely, and should be able to do the same with the Bengals.
Patriots Found Replacement At Safety Position
In the meantime, the Patriots were able to get promising production from their own safety position. They drafted Craig Woodson in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL draft. The latter immediately became a contributor last season. The California product ranked fourth on the team in tackles with 79, tied for the team lead in fumble recoveries with two, and recorded three passes defensed. He quickly became a starter, appearing in all 17 regular-season games.
His performance was not just limited to the regular season. Woodson also played a pivotal role in the Super Bowl. He recorded 10 tackles in the game, which led the team. Woodson will be going into his second year, looking to take the next leap for the organization.
All in all, things worked out at the safety position. Dugger was able to find a role where he fit better defensively. The Patriots were able to find their next safety in Woodson. The latter should be a major part of the defense for years to come. It might have been a risky move at the time to move on from Dugger. However, both the ensuing play of Woodson and Dugger’s success with the Steelers made a promising move for both parties. It will be interesting to see what both of them can do at their respective destinations in Year 2.