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 the opposite, if head coach Jerod Mayo is to be believed.
“Kyle is a talented player with a strong work ethic who has improved every year and been extremely productive since joining our team in 2020,” Mayo said in a statement released by the Patriots.