1:18 PM EDT, Thu March 28, 2024
Pats Pulpit Mar 14, 2024
Patriots made Michael Onwenu one of the NFL’s highest-paid offensive linemen

Patriots made Michael Onwenu one of the NFL’s highest-paid offensive linemen

Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports The Patriots re-signed the versatile offensive lineman to a three-year contract this week. After the New England Patriots used the transition tag on safety Kyle Dugger, only one of their two big unrestricted free agents remained heading into this week: offensive lineman Michael Onwenu. The former sixth-round draft pick, who had started 56 games over his first four years in New England, was considered one of the top linemen to enter the market. Naturally, bringing him back was not going to be cheap. The Patriots were still willing to make the...
Pats Pulpit Mar 11, 2024
Instant grade for the Patriots re-signing OL Michael Onwenu in free agency

Instant grade for the Patriots re-signing OL Michael Onwenu in free agency

Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via The Patriots are keeping the veteran O-lineman in the fold for three more years. After Kyle Dugger received the transition tag, offensive lineman Michael Onwenu remained the New England Patriots’ biggest free agent both literally and figuratively. And while he did enter the legal tampering period, he never made it to free agency: the Patriots and Onwenu reached an agreement on a three-year, $57 million contract extension on Monday. Needless to say, there is plenty to feel good about. OL Michael Onwenu: Re-signed (3 years,...
NESN.com Mar 11, 2024

NFL Insider Confident Patriots Reach Agreement With This Player

After the Patriots applied the transition tag to Kyle Dugger, Jerod Mayo explained New England utilized the designation to create more time to reach a long-term agreement with the safety. That might not have been simple media speak from the first-year head coach. Dugger, per the terms of the transition tag, is permitted to seek […]
Pats Pulpit Mar 11, 2024
5 defensive backs the Patriots could target in free agency

5 defensive backs the Patriots could target in free agency

Photo by Michael Owens/ Could the Patriots add a veteran ballhawk to their secondary? The New England Patriots already made sure to lock up their top free agent in the secondary, placing the transition tag on Kyle Dugger last week. The move keeps Dugger under contract for 2024, and potentially sets the stage for a long-term extension with the starting safety, but it may not remain the only move to address the defensive backfield. While both safety and cornerback were relative strengths for the team in 2023, and project to be so again this coming season, there is room...
Pats Pulpit Mar 11, 2024
Current state of the safety market is playing into the Patriots’ hands

Current state of the safety market is playing into the Patriots’ hands

Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via New England placed the transition tag on Kyle Dugger last week. Pro football economics are a question of supply and demand. There is a reason why the quarterback position is being paid significantly more than others: there are only so many viable starters available for the 32 spots, and you cannot compete in today’s NFL without a quality player under center. The demand at other positions, meanwhile, has been depressed through the years. Running back is the most popular example, and a result of the league trending ever more...
Pats Pulpit Mar 6, 2024
Kyle Dugger joins rare company as Patriots’ new transition player

Kyle Dugger joins rare company as Patriots’ new transition player

Photo by Cooper Neill/ The veteran safety has become the first Patriot in three decades to get transition-tagged. Nine teams made a move ahead of the NFL franchise tag deadline on Tuesday, and the New England Patriots were among them. As opposed to the other eight clubs, however, they decided to not to use the franchise tag to keep one of their players from entering free agency next week. Instead, the Patriots went with the seldom-used transition tag to keep safety Kyle Dugger under contract for the 2024 season. The tag will pay Dugger a fully-guaranteed $13.82 million...
Pats Pulpit Mar 6, 2024
New England Patriots links 3/06/24 - Roster-building 2024: Keeping the LB room strong

New England Patriots links 3/06/24 - Roster-building 2024: Keeping the LB room strong

LBs JaWhaun Bentley (8) and LB Mack Wilson Sr. (3) | Photo by Billie Weiss/ Daily news and links for Wednesday TEAM TALK Patriots 2024 Mock Draft Tracker. Evan Lazar analyzes the Patriots placing the transition tag on Kyle Dugger, giving the club the right to match any offer to their standout safety in free agency. Mike Dussault examines the free agency forecast for the Patriots at Safety. Mike Dussault tackles this week’s Patriots Mailbag: Combine risers, late-round fits and the coming free agency frenzy. Paul Perillo’s NFL Notes: Slater’s impact reached...
NESN.com Mar 6, 2024

Patriots Reportedly Express Trade Interest In This Star Defender

The Patriots reportedly are seeking to add at least one “elite defender” this offseason, and they could do so in the trade market. New England used the transition tag on Kyle Dugger, who fits the identity head coach Jerod Mayo wants to establish in his first season as head coach. Analysts project the Patriots to […]
NESN.com Mar 6, 2024

Jerod Mayo Reveals Patriots’ Plan For Kyle Dugger After Transition Tag

Kyle Dugger was tagged by the Patriots on Tuesday, but not in the way commonly practiced in the NFL every March. New England used the transition — not the franchise — tag on Dugger, whose rookie contract was set to expire next Wednesday. The 2020 second-round pick became only the sixth NFL player in the […]
Pats Pulpit Mar 6, 2024
Patriots hope to reach long-term deal with Kyle Dugger after using transition tag

Patriots hope to reach long-term deal with Kyle Dugger after using transition tag

Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports The veteran safety remains under contract for the upcoming 2024 season. The New England Patriots placed the transition tag on pending free agent Kyle Dugger ahead of Tuesday’s deadline, signaling a clear desire to keep the veteran safety in the fold for the upcoming 2024 season. The nature of the tag does allow Dugger to be courted by other teams, and only gives the Patriots the right of first refusal without any compensation should he leave. That being said, the organization does not plan on waving the 28-year-old goodbye — quite...
NESN.com Mar 5, 2024

Seven Patriots-Related Takeaways After NFL Franchise Tag Deadline

The Patriots reportedly decided to use their transition tag on safety Kyle Dugger, but that’s not the only move that had some sort of trickle-down effect on New England. Given the amount of cap space and holes on the roster, the Patriots have the potential to be key players in NFL free agency. But some […]
Pats Pulpit Mar 5, 2024
What placing the transition tag on Kyle Dugger means for the Patriots

What placing the transition tag on Kyle Dugger means for the Patriots

Photo by Michael Owens/ Dugger will return in 2024. The New England Patriots new regime made their first impactful move of their tenure on Tuesday, as they applied the transition tag to safety Kyle Dugger ahead of the 4 p.m. ET deadline. Here’s what that means for New England with free agency quickly approaching. Right of refusal After receiving the transition tag, Kyle Dugger will still hit free agency on Wednesday if the two sides do not come to agreement on a long-term contract. However, he now essentially does so at a restricted level. With the transition tag, New...
NESN.com Mar 5, 2024

Patriots Use Oft-Forgotten Tag On Kyle Dugger; What’s That Mean?

Patriots safety Kyle Dugger was slated to hit unrestricted free agency for the first time on March 13, but that changed Tuesday. New England is electing to place the transition tag on Dugger, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. If you’re wondering how the transition tag works, you’re not the only one. It’s often forgotten […]
NESN.com Mar 5, 2024

How Patriots Using Transition Tag On Kyle Dugger Impacts Mike Onwenu

Mike Onwenu will become a free agent if he and the New England Patriots cannot come to terms on a contract extension before the start of free agency. Free agency starts March 13, two days after the legal tampering period. The Patriots on Tuesday placed the transition tag on safety Kyle Dugger, as first reported […]
Pats Pulpit Mar 5, 2024
Patriots place transition tag on safety Kyle Dugger, per report

Patriots place transition tag on safety Kyle Dugger, per report

Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports The veteran safety is now set to play on a one-year, $13.82 million contract. Just hours before Tuesday’s franchise tag deadline, the New England Patriots have made a move. The club has decided to place the transition tag on safety Kyle Dugger, as first reported by Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. Dugger will therefore not enter unrestricted free agency when the market opens next Wednesday. Instead, he is scheduled to spend the 2024 season on a one-year, $13.82 million contract. While the transition tag is similar to the franchise tag — it is a...

Kyle Dugger Photos

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