Patriots Re-Sign Playmaking Safety to Massive Contract Extension
By Jovan Alford
The New England Patriots haven’t made many splash moves this offseason, which they’ve been heavily scrutinized for. New England's biggest move this offseason was re-signing veteran offensive lineman Mike Onwenu to a three-year, $57 million deal.
It was a good and smart move by the Patriots’ front office brass. However, they still had to figure out what they wanted to do with veteran safety Kyle Dugger. Dugger was given the transition tag before free agency started and reportedly didn’t sign it as of last week.
That said, New England and Duggar found common ground on a new deal that will keep him in Foxborough for the foreseeable future.
Patriots News: New England Inks Kyle Dugger to Four-Year Extension
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Sunday that the Patriots re-signed Dugger to a four-year, $58 million contract at $14.5 million per year. Spotrac projected the veteran safety to receive a four-year, $66 million contract this offseason.
The #Patriots have spent most of their offseason locking in their key, homegrown players. Now, another one — as Kyle Dugger gets a 4-year, $58M deal right at $14.5M per year.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 7, 2024
Instead of the transition tag, he gets the long-term deal he wants.
Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald adds that Dugger’s new deal has a max of $66 million and $32.5 million guaranteed.
Source: The #Patriots and S Kyle Dugger have agreed to a 4-year, $58 million deal with a max of $66 million and $32.5 million guaranteed.
— Andrew Callahan (@_AndrewCallahan) April 7, 2024
Another core player extended. pic.twitter.com/ydArg9YemN
New England gave Dugger a significant pay raise as he’s now the sixth-highest-paid safety in the league by total value and average annual value. If the 28-year-old defensive back signed the transition tag, he would’ve only made $13.2 million for the 2024 season.
The former Lenoir-Rhyne standout is coming off a tremendous 2023 season and showed why he was one of the Patriots’ best defensive players. Dugger had 109 total tackles, seven pass deflections, six tackles for loss, five quarterback hits, and two interceptions.
The veteran safety also shined in pass coverage, allowing a 68.8 completion percentage, an 82.7 pass rating allowed when targeted, and giving up one receiving touchdown.
With Dugger back in the fold, the Patriots have their secondary set for the upcoming season under first-year head coach Jerod Mayo. New England is still viewed as a long shot to win the division despite the re-signing of Dugger (+1700 on FanDuel Sportsbook), but the defense will keep the Patriots in a ton of games in 2024.
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