New England Patriots agree $66million deal to dodge transition tag

The New England Patriots have moved to seal a contract extension with one of their key defensive players and avoided using their transition tag. 

Safety Kyle Dugger has agreed to a four-year, $58million extension, that could be worth up to $66million and contains $32.5million in guaranteed money, as per the NFL Network. 

This comes after the Pats handed Dugger the transition tag last month ahead of the franchise tag deadline. That meant Dugger would have been tied into a $13.8million, one-year tender that was calculated from the average of the ten highest-paid safeties in the league. 

Dugger’s new deal sees him top that figure and gives him a longer contract, as the team rewarded the 2020 second-round draft pick for his solid contributions over the past four seasons. 

The 25-year-old was a key part of the Patriots backfield in recent seasons, making 343 tackles and hauling in nine interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns, during 61 career starts. 

With New England transitioning from the Bill Belichick era to a new regime under Jerod Mayo this season, the team will look to Dugger to provide leadership and experience as they attempt to bounce back from consecutive losing seasons.

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