Safety Kyle Dugger is set to stay within the AFC North in 2026, having inked a single-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals, as reported Thursday by Drew Rosenhaus, his representative, to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The Bengals possessed a vacancy at the safety position subsequent to Geno Stone’s agreement with the Buffalo Bills in the preceding month.
The Pittsburgh Steelers secured Dugger’s services from the New England Patriots at the trade deadline of the prior season, relinquishing a 2026 sixth-round selection to obtain the player previously drafted in the second round, coupled with a 2026 seventh-round pick.
The Steelers executed the transaction when their primary strong safety, DeShon Elliott, was placed on injured reserve, concluding his season. Dugger exerted an instant effect, participating in virtually all defensive snaps during his debut match in Pittsburgh when the Steelers vanquished the Indianapolis Colts. Subsequently, Dugger achieved a pick-six during his third start, and he secured an additional interception in the Week 17 defeat against the Cleveland Browns.
Despite featuring in almost every defensive play across his initial eight contests for the Steelers, his involvement dropped to approximately half of the defensive snaps in the Week 18 concluding match and postseason contest, given that Dugger’s responsibilities were shared by the Steelers with seasoned peer Chuck Clark.
Dugger, 30, registered 59 stops, two tackles behind the line of scrimmage, a single quarterback pressure, plus two interceptions across his tenure with the Steelers and Patriots in the last season.
Ever since his selection from Lenoir-Rhyne College as a second-round pick in the 2020 NFL draft by the Patriots, Dugger has accumulated 11 overall interceptions over six campaigns, among which are three pick-six touchdowns. Additionally, he has caused three fumbles and secured a fumble leading to a touchdown.
Dugger is not the sole reinforcement brought into the secondary that the Bengals acquired on Thursday. Furthermore, the Cincinnati franchise also secured the services of unattached cornerback Ja’Sir Taylor, a move the squad made public.
ESPN’s Brooke Pryor provided material for this piece.