Late last week, with the depth chart behind running back Christian McCaffrey dwindling due to injuries, the San Francisco 49ers took care of the problem by engaging in a trade with the Washington Commanders to acquire Brian Robinson Jr., who'd been his now-former team's top back for the past three years.
And now, given some issues they're having at safety, the Niners might be wise to make another phone call, this time to the New England Patriots to inquire about the services of Kyle Dugger, who's reportedly on the trading block after being demoted by new Pats head coach Mike Vrabel.
Despite playing collegiately at Division II Lenoir-Rhyne, Dugger was taken in the second round of the 2020 draft by then-New England head coach Bill Belichick with the 37th overall pick. He quickly made his way up the depth chart, starting seven games as a rookie, and has been one of the best and most consistent defenders in New England ever since, racking up 424 total tackles, 25 tackles for loss, 10 QB hits, 3.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, 24 passes defended, nine interceptions, and a pair of pick-sixes in his five years in Foxborough.
An ankle injury kept him out of four games a season ago, and he ultimately underwent offseason surgery to address the issue. And his recovery from said surgery, along with Vrabel coming in and implenting new schemes, has led to Dugger falling down the depth chart. Jabrill Peppers appears set to start at one safety spot, while Jaylinn Hawkins and fourth-round rookie Craig Woodson have been competing with Dugger for the other.
49ers would be wise to onboard Kyle Dugger
As for the 49ers' situation at safety, the biggest issue, of course, is that Malik Mustapha is expected to miss a decent chunk of the season as he continues to recover from a torn ACL in his right knee. San Francisco added veterans Jason Pinnock and Richie Grant, but both have been dealing with injuries of their own, which may force head coach Kyle Shanahan to start fifth-round rookie Marques Sigle alongside Ji'Ayir Brown in Week 1 if no moves are made before then.
The big catch in bringing Dugger in, though, is the fact that he's in just the second season of the four-year, $58 million extension he signed ahead of the 2024 campaign. Given how Niners GM John Lynch handled the offseason, he was clearly all about shedding big salaries and creating cap space, not adding to it.
But here's the thing. While Dugger has a base salary of $9.75 million in 2025, $10.75 million in 2026, and $11.75 million in 2027, there is no guaranteed money remaining on his contract after this season. So, if the 49ers could get the Patriots to eat some bonus money, which New England may very well be willing to do just to unload him, this could work, as it gives San Francisco a little flexibility.
As to what Lynch would have to give up, one would think a mid-round selection would do the trick. It'll certainly have to be more than the sixth-rounder he gave Washington for Robinson, but a fifth-rounder that could become a fourth-rounder based on performance might work.
Dugger with a chip on his shoulder in a defense run by Robert Saleh? It's safe to say 49ers fans would go along with that.
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