New England Patriots safety Kyle Dugger has made quite the impact since entering the NFL.
He has proven himself to be an important part of the Patriots defense, which has led to him getting some national recognition from ESPN.
Last season, Dugger recorded 78 combined tackles and three interceptions in what was another stellar season for him. Now, he looks to perform at a high level once again with his contract expiring in 2024.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler talked to people around the league that loved Dugger’s playmaking ability enough to get him listed as an honorable mention in a ranking of the top-10 safeties in the NFL.
Fowler wrote:
“Love his ball skills,” a veteran AFC executive said. “I typically don’t like the big strong safety/linebacker types because they are often limited in coverage, but in this case, I really like the player and how disruptive he is.” Duggar has collected 234 tackles and seven interceptions in three NFL seasons. An NFC exec added: “Versatile, tough, smart, excellent tackler.”
That versatility will need to be on full display in 2023 with Dugger looking to help fill the leadership void left by Devin McCourty’s retirement. He will be a key anchor in the defensive backfield for a Patriots defense expected to continue serving as the team’s calling card.
