Patriots Place Franchise Tag on Kyle Dugger; What's Next?

The New England Patriots are attempting to keep safety Kyle Dugger in Foxboro for at least the upcoming season by applying the seldom-used transition tag on him.

FOXBORO — The New England Patriots have taken a poignant step in ensuring their top free agent defender remains in Foxboro, at least for the upcoming season. 

The Pats, per a Tuesday afternoon ESPN report, are playing the transition tag on saftey Kyle Dugger. 

The transition tag is a one-year tender offer for the average of the top 10 salaries at the position — as opposed to the top five for the franchise tag. It guarantees the original club — which in this case is New England —  the right of first refusal to match any offer the player might receive from another club.

Photo by Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe

Per the terms of the transition tag, Dugger is set to earn $13.81 million this season, should he remain with the Patriots. 

Since joining the team as a second-round (No. 37 overall) draft selection in 2020, Dugger has been one of the team’s most reliable defenders. The 27-year-old led all defensive backs with 109 total tackles, while also compiling seven passes-defensed, two interceptions and 1.5 sacks. His on-field prowess combined with his football acumen should help him command several lucrative offers, should he hit the open market.

If New England had opted to use the franchise tag on Dugger, he would have received a $17.1 million fully guaranteed salary for 2024. As such, New England could use the year ahead to work out a long-term deal with the safety, assuming he stays with the team. However, unlike the non-exclusive franchise tag, the Patriots will not receive compensation if they do not match an offer from another team. 

Patriots Offer Contract to Kyle Dugger?

From a financial standpoint, the Pats make a reasonable commitment to Dugger, while avoiding the higher annual costs of tagging fellow prominent free agent Mike Onwenu at offensive tackle. The Michigan product  is rumored to be in line for a substantial payday, which could see him earn between $17-18 million annually. Had New England opted to use the franchise tage on Onwenu, he would have been in line for a fully-guaranteed $20.9 million salary for 2024.

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