JUST IN;’ Patriots’ unconventional decision with veteran safety could pay financially.
According to various sources, the New England Patriots are putting the transition tag on safety Kyle Dugger. According to ESPN’s Mike Reiss, he is only the sixth player to acquire the tag in the past 15 years.
The Patriots selected Dugger in the second round in 2020. He is one of New England’s most important defensive players, with 109 tackles and two interceptions in 2023.
There are distinctions between the transition and franchise tags. Mark Daniels from MassLive.com explains it here:
“It’s a one-year contract worth the average of the top ten wages at the position (compared to the top five for the franchise tag). By applying the tag, the Patriots have the right to match any offer another team makes to Dugger. If another team signed Dugger away, the Patriots would not receive draft compensation.”
It’s an unusual but potentially wise approach because it gives the Patriots a safety net and more time to determine whether to keep Dugger. The Patriots will pay Dugger merely the $13.815 million necessary by the transition tag.
If a team makes an offer that the Patriots are unwilling to match, or if Dugger accepts another team’s offer, New England will have to find a replacement through free agency or the NFL Draft. Safeties Jamal Adams, Eddie Jackson, Quandre Diggs, and Micah Hyde are all unrestricted free agents in 2024, giving the Patriots plenty of alternatives.
The issue with Dugger will be intriguing to follow. More developments will take place after free agency begins on Wednesday, March 13 at 4 p.m. ET.