ESPN Links Vikings to New Name via Trade
The Minnesota Vikings could be buyers, sellers, or neither before the league’s trade deadline in 13 days, and according to ESPN, if the club adds a player, that man could be Kyle Dugger, a safety with the New England Patriots.
The NFL trade deadline is less than two weeks away, and according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Vikings could land a high-profile safety from the AFC.
Dugger is apparently on the trade block, at least sideways per ESPN, and Minnesota is one of the clubs that could donate a draft pick to New England for his services.
Kyle Dugger Connected to Vikings by ESPN before Trade Deadline
Minnesota doesn’t really need a safety now, but 2026 could be a different story.
Jeremy Fowler Names Vikings as Trade Destination for Kyle Dugger
Minnesota may, indeed, make a move or two before the November 4th deadline, but most onlookers don’t have another safety on their bingo boards.
Still, Fowler wrote this week about Dugger as a trade possibility, “The buzz: The belief in league circles is that Dugger would have been dealt before Week 1 but for his cost-prohibitive $9.75 million salary. There was interest then and could be again. Now that New England is sitting at 5-2, perhaps it will revisit a potential deal.”
“However, Dugger has played a combined 102 defensive snaps over the past two weeks due to an injury to starter Jaylinn Hawkins, which might change things. Dugger would be a quality third-safety insurance for a team in contention. Predicted chance of getting traded: 25%. Team fits: New York Giants, Minnesota Vikings, Washington Commanders.”
ESPN’s Matt Bowen added, “The tape: Yeah, Dugger can help a team looking for a No. 3 safety. He can play from depth in split-safety coverages, while his 6-foot-1, 216-pound frame helps create more opportunities as a dime/sub-package defender in a multiple scheme.”
And just like that, a mini-rumor is born.
Dugger’s NFL Resume
New England found Dugger in Round 2 of the 2020 NFL Draft — the day after Minnesota picked wide receiver Justin Jefferson — and he’s participated in 81 games since, while starting 69. Along the way, as a five-year running starter, Dugger has amassed 441 tackles, 25 tackles for loss, 9 interceptions, and 3.5 sacks.
Here’s the Pro Football Focus resume for the 6’2″ 225-pounder:
- 2025: 58.0
- 2024: 44.3
- 2023: 61.7
- 2022: 78.4
- 2021: 69.7
- 2020: 64.1
Dugger is especially known for stopping the run and lagging a bit in pass coverage.
A Would-Be Trade for 2026 and Beyond?
Minnesota doesn’t necessarily have a spot in the current defense to accommodate a starting safety. Brian Flores uses Harrison Smith, Josh Metellus, Theo Jackson, and sometimes Jay Ward on Sundays. There’s no clear room for a fifth safety.
Nevertheless, Smith is partaking in Year No. 14, meaning the end of his career could be as soon as January. In that regard, Minnesota may need a safety next offseason, and per Fowler’s theory, forging the relationship now with Dugger could keep him attached to the purple team’s roster for the next few years.
It’s the only thing that makes sense to explain Minnesota’s alleged need for a safety — planning for life after Smith.
How Much?
Dugger won’t be a free agent until 2028, unless the Patriots release him prior to that. Trading him would entail a $13.5 million dead cap hit, so “to each their own” would have to be the rationale for Mike Vrabel’s club.
If one assumes that Dugger is realistically on the block, he can probably be obtained for a 5th-Round Pick, or perhaps Dugger and a 6th-Rounder for another team’s 4th-Rounder. Something in that ballpark.
Dugger will turn 30 next offseason. His prime is in the rearview. He entered the NFL as a 24-year-old rookie in 2020.
Other ESPN Trade Theories
Fowler also mentioned a possible Russell Wilson trade to the New Orleans Saints or Las Vegas Raiders: “The buzz: Trading Wilson would be a challenge because of the scarcity of available starting QB jobs. The Bengals had a clear opening two weeks ago but opted for Joe Flacco.”
“The Giants could slide Jameis Winston into the No. 2 quarterback spot if they aggressively pursue a trade of Wilson. At this stage of Wilson’s career, compensation would not be steep. His days as a productive starter appear to be over. He has a trade-friendly base salary of $2 million.”
And wide receiver Jaylen Waddle to the Pittsburgh Steelers or New York Giants: “The buzz: This is a similar situation to Hendrickson; the team does not plan to trade the player but interest is there.”
“While Miami could be tempted to trade players due to its 1-6 record, Waddle is a building block on offense, and he’s due $36.1 million in cash over 2025-26 — reasonable in today’s high-end receiver market. Multiple league execs expect the Dolphins’ no-trade stance to stand barring a surprise.”
The Vikings have made at least one deal before the deadline in each season since Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s arrival in 2022.
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