New England Patriots Continued To Refine Their Roster Trading Away Two Former Starters
The New England Patriots have been very busy making moves prior to the Tuesday November 4th NFL trade deadline. Yesterday they made it clear who they want on their team by extending cornerback and punter returner Marcus Jones. Today the New England Patriots continued to refine their roster by trading away two former starters. Defensive end Keion White and safety Kyle Dugger have both been traded. White is headed to the San Francisco 49ers while Dugger is going to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Patriots are getting a 2026 sixth-round draft pick back in return for veteran safety Dugger and a seventh-rounder. And the Pats acquired a 2026 sixth-round pick from the Niners in exchange for White and a 2026 seventh-round pick. But they also plan on signing to their roster rookie safety John Saunders Jr. from the Miami Dolphins practice squad. ESPN reporter for the New England Patriots, Mike Reiss explains why the Patriots moved on from the two players:
White and Dugger were ideal fits in the old defensive scheme adopted by former coaches Bill Belichick and Jerod Mayo, but not so much in Vrabel’s scheme that values defensive ends who can bend the edge and safeties who can play multiple spots. White played 74% of the defensive snaps in 2024 under Mayo, but he’s not a natural bender, he tends to win more with pure power. White has been on the field for only 25.9% of the snaps in 2025 as a result.
Dugger is more of a box safety whose ability to play closer to the line of scrimmage was viewed as an asset by Belichick and Mayo, but it isn’t a big part of the responsibilities of a safety in Vrabel’s scheme, which values those who can play a variety of roles (which is partially why Saunders appealed to them).
New England Patriots Continued To Refine Their Roster Trading Away Two Former Starters
Therefore, with both players sliding down the depth chart it made sense to initiate the trades. And both the 49ers and Steelers could use their help. The 49ers have Nick Bosa out for the year with a torn ACL; so White can help shore up their defensive line. The Steelers likewise have been bitten with the injury bug and could use the former Patriots’ captain Kyle Dugger in their lineup.
Currently the Pats are 6-2 and want to continue their winning streak. With all the roster moves they are making they look to be positioning themselves very well. Head coach Mike Vrabel said Monday that the personnel department is “gauging the market around the league.” So it seems they may not be done making moves prior to the trade deadline.
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