5 Patriots Fans Will Be Sad to See Leave in Free Agency

3. Kyle Dugger, S

Patriots fans were dazzled by Kyle Dugger during the 2022 campaign. The former 2020 second-rounder looked like he had finally put everything together, recording 50 solo tackles, eight defended passes, three interceptions (including two Pick-6s), and a PFF grade of 78.3 in coverage.

Unfortunately, Dugger didn't come close to having the same impact last season. Even though his tackling numbers improved and he still broke up seven passes with two INTs, his 50.0 coverage grade showed that he was somewhat of a liability.

Although Dugger struggled to reach his ceiling in 2023, it'd be devastating if he left in free agency. The Patriots already lost Devin McCourty to retirement last season, so losing another prominent safety would be another tough pill to swallow.

There's also the potential of Dugger bouncing back elsewhere that would hurt. He's still in his prime at 27 and did show promise last campaign despite his struggles, including only allowing one TD on 64 targets compared to the five he allowed on 55 attempts in 2022.

I'm sure the Patriots wouldn't mind a potential return, however, Dugger might also want to look elsewhere for an opportunity if he doesn't want to be a part of a rebuild. If that's the case, there might not be any dollar amount that keeps him in town.