Patriots Restructure Kyle Dugger’s Contract Before Steelers Trade
The New England Patriots recently made significant adjustments to Kyle Dugger’s contract ahead of a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers. This restructuring converted a portion of his salary into a signing bonus, allowing the team to distribute the remaining costs over the next two seasons.
Key Contract Restructuring Details
The contract restructuring affects Dugger’s financial implications through 2027. Below is an outline of the key details:
| Year | Base Salary | Signing Bonus | Roster Bonus | Workout Bonus | Dead Money | Cap Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $4,333,333 | $4,500,000 (2024), $1,588,889 (2025) | $411,765 | $260,080 | $12,177,778 | $4,733,987 |
| 2026 | – | $9,000,000 (2024), $3,177,778 (2025) | – | – | $12,177,778 | $4,733,987 |
| 2027 | – | – | – | – | $0 | $18,000,000 |
Financial Impact on the Team
The complete signing bonus for Dugger is divided into three equal installments of approximately $1.59 million. The first installment will impact the Patriots’ salary cap this season, while the remaining two will take effect in 2026. This creates dead cap charges of $11.09 million in 2025 and $12.18 million in 2026.
Despite the ongoing financial implications beyond 2025, the Patriots successfully achieved notable cap savings in each of the remaining years of Dugger’s original contract. The savings breakdown is as follows:
- 2025: $4.18 million
- 2026: $4.73 million
- 2027: $18 million
In summary, while Kyle Dugger’s restructured contract will influence the Patriots’ salary cap for years to come, the team has managed to secure significant savings in the near future.
