Steelers acquire Kyle Dugger from Patriots to bolster secondary

The Pittsburgh Steelers acquired safety Kyle Dugger from the New England Patriots on Tuesday night, sending a 2026 sixth-round draft pick to New England in exchange for Dugger and a 2026 seventh-round choice, the teams announced. The move, made official Thursday, is designed to bolster Pittsburgh's secondary after starter DeShon Elliott was sidelined indefinitely with a right knee injury.

League transaction records show the seventh-round pick the Steelers received is a New Orleans selection and that the sixth-round pick the Steelers sent is their own, projected to fall roughly 20 spots; the deal includes a condition on that selection that has not been disclosed. League reports also indicate the Patriots will retain roughly $5.4 million of Dugger's $9.75 million base salary, the final two years of his contract have been voided, and the Steelers will carry his salary only for the remainder of the season. Those adjustments make Dugger a free agent at the end of the year.

Dugger, 29, was a second-round pick by New England in 2020 out of Division II Lenoir-Rhyne and has 69 career starts in 81 games. He had 17 tackles in seven games this season for the Patriots and nine career...