New England Patriots: Rookie safety Kyle Dugger showing massive upside

Rookie safety Kyle Dugger is making an immediate impact for the New England Patriots and showing a ton of long-term upside.

Nobody was surprised when the New England Patriots traded out of the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. It was a classic Bill Belichick move that led to the selection of Kyle Dugger early in the second round. Dugger was a Division II safety prospect who undoubtedly has a ton of athletic ability and impressive natural playmaking ability. Through two games, Dugger already looks to be a defensive star in the making for New England.

In Week 1 against the Miami Dolphins, Dugger only played 11 defensive snaps, seeing time at safety behind Devin McCourty, Adrian Phillips and Terrence Brooks. In their Week 2 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks, Dugger took on an expanded role, playing in 54-percent of their defensive snaps. Dugger now appears to be the Pats’ third safety behind McCourty and Phillips.

Dugger showed impressive versatility and playmaking ability against the Seahawks. He lined up all over the field for the New England Patriots, playing in-the-box as a linebacker, as a deep safety and even some slot cornerback. Dugger showed strong man coverage ability against the Seahawks and was particularly impressive as a weapon in the blitz game.

Dugger is quick and explosive at the snap and shows incredible natural power at the point of attack for a defensive back. Against Seattle, Dugger was not afraid to smash into the line and create push at the point of attack. He did a great job of putting pressure on quarterback Russell Wilson and helping keep the running game in check.

Simply put, Dugger is an extremely talented defender who has massive upside for the New England Patriots. As the season goes along, the Patriots will likely give Dugger more snaps and responsibility. It is likely only a matter of time before he takes over for Phillips as the second safety, proving his worth as a major part of the future of their defense.