The 6-2 Patriots traded Keion White to the 49ers and Kyle Dugger to the Steelers before the NFL trade deadline. Here’s why Mike Vrabel is reshaping the roster.
Something weird happened Tuesday afternoon in New England. The Patriots – who are 6-2, in first place in the AFC East, and looking like legitimate playoff contenders – started selling off players.
They traded defensive end Keion White to the 49ers and safety Kyle Dugger to the Steelers in separate deals before Tuesday’s 4 PM ET trade deadline. Both were former starters. Both were significant investments. And both were completely out of favor with new head coach Mike Vrabel.
So what’s actually going on here? Why would a winning team with playoff hopes start dealing away defensive pieces?
The Trades: What Actually Happened
Let’s break down what the Patriots got and gave up in these deals.
Keion White to the 49ers:
- Patriots receive: 2026 sixth-round pick
- 49ers receive: Keion White + 2026 seventh-round pick
Kyle Dugger to the Steelers:
- Patriots receive: 2026 sixth-round pick
- Steelers receive: Kyle Dugger + 2026 seventh-round pick
- Patriots agreed to pay most of Dugger’s remaining 2025 salary
So essentially, New England swapped two players and two seventh-round picks for two sixth-round picks. On paper, that’s not exactly a haul. You’re moving up one round in the draft next year – big deal.
But this wasn’t about getting massive draft compensation. This was about something else entirely.
The Financial Side Makes More Sense
The Dugger trade especially makes sense when you look at the money.
The Patriots are over the salary cap for 2026 right now. Dugger was scheduled to make $10.75 million in base salary next year, plus another $1.5 million in roster bonuses. In 2027, those numbers jump to $11.75 million and $1.5 million.
By trading him now, even while paying most of his remaining 2025 salary to make the deal work, the Patriots clear all that future money off the books. That’s over $12 million per year for the next two seasons.
For a team that needs cap flexibility to keep building around quarterback Drake Maye and extend guys like cornerback Marcus Jones (who just got a three-year, $36 million extension on Tuesday), getting out from under Dugger’s contract was probably the smart play.
White’s trade adds about $810,000 in cap savings this year and $1.8 million next year. Not huge numbers since he’s on a rookie deal, but it all adds up.
What This Means for the Patriots Moving Forward
The Patriots aren’t done at the deadline. According to ESPN’s Mike Reiss, they’re expected to keep both selling and buying.
Positions they might target on offense: running back (Antonio Gibson tore his ACL) and potentially wide receiver depth.
On defense: they could use another safety now that Dugger’s gone, and maybe a veteran edge rusher to provide depth behind Landry and Chaisson.
The bigger picture is that Vrabel’s making this roster his own. He’s not interested in keeping guys around just because they were important under the previous regime. If you don’t fit his scheme, you’re gone – even if you’re still on a rookie deal or just signed a big extension.
That’s what good coaches do. They build their team their way, not try to force-fit players into roles they’re not suited for.
The Rest of the NFL Deadline Moves
The Patriots weren’t the only team busy Tuesday:
Roger McCreary to the Rams: Tennessee sent the cornerback to Los Angeles for a conditional fifth-round pick. The Rams needed secondary help after injuries.
Tank Bigsby to the Eagles: Philadelphia acquired the Jaguars running back for fifth and sixth-round picks in 2026. The Eagles love collecting running backs apparently.
Ja’Lynn Polk to the Saints: New Orleans traded for the Patriots’ 2024 second-round pick who’s currently on IR with a shoulder injury. Polk never worked out in New England.
Other notable teams still in play before the 4 PM deadline: the Bengals might move edge rusher Trey Hendrickson, the Giants are getting calls about everyone, and the Steelers are looking for more wide receiver help beyond Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
