The New England Patriots were active Tuesday as the NFL’s Nov. 4 trade deadline approaches.
Per multiple reports, the Patriots made a pair of deals, sending veteran defenders away in exchange for improved draft standing.
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They traded safety Kyle Dugger and a seventh-round pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for a sixth-round selection. And they traded edge rusher Keion White and a seventh-round pick to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for a sixth-round selection.
Why Patriots, Steelers made Dugger deal
Dugger, 29, is a sixth-year NFL veteran who’s played his entire career with the Patriots. He was previously a full-time starter in New England since his second year in the league, but lost reps to rookie Craig Woodson this season under first-year head coach Mike Vrabel.
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A fourth-round pick out of California, Woodson has started seven of eight games this season and was listed ahead of Dugger on New England’s official depth chart at the time of Tuesday’s reported deal.
Safety Kyle Dugger is moving from the Patriots to the rival Steelers in a pre-deadline trade.
(Michael Owens via Getty Images)
The Steelers, meanwhile, rank last in the NFL in pass defense while allowing 273.3 yards per game. They’re coming off consecutive losses to the Bengals and Packers in which they allowed Joe Flacco to pass for 342 yards and three touchdowns and Jordan Love to tally 360 yards and three touchdowns.
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Love tied a Packers record with 20 consecutive completions Sunday night, and neither Flacco nor Love threw an interception against Pittsburgh’s pass defense in those games. Pittsburgh is certainly hoping that Dugger can shore up its leaky pass defense.
Why 49ers took a chance on White
White was a second-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft who started 13 games in 2024 for New England, but, like Dugger, played in a reduced role in 2025 . White played in five of New England’s eight games to start the season and made just one start.
After tallying five sacks and 16 quarterback hits in 2024, White has failed to record one of either in 2025 while posting just six total tackles.
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The 49ers have been in the market for a pass rusher in the aftermath of the season-ending ACL tear to All-Pro Nick Bosa. Defensive ends Yetur Gross-Matos (hamstring), Bryce Huff (hamstring), and Sam Okuayinonu (ankle) have also been limited by injuries.
San Francisco is adding White without giving up much in the trade with hope that he can deliver on the promise he arrived with in the NFL as a second-round pick.
The Patriots, meanwhile, appear to be parting with players who don’t fit in Vrabel’s scheme. They’re gaining draft capital in return to build for the long-term on the momentum of this season’s 6-2 start around second-year quarterback Drake Maye, who has developed into an MVP candidate.
