Bengals signing rival player may have a consequence fans don’t want to hear about the 2026 NFL Draft
The Cincinnati Bengals are signing veteran safety Kyle Dugger to a one-year deal. Dugger’s experience as a starter gives Cincinnati great depth at the position, but the dream of Caleb Downs may be over.
The Cincinnati Bengals went back to free agency for the second time Thursday and agreed to terms with safety Kyle Dugger.
Dugger, like cornerback Ja’Sir Taylor, is signing a one-year contract with Cincinnati. Unlike Taylor, Dugger is coming to town with ample starting experience as a former second-round pick from the 2020 NFL Draft. He started 69 games with the New England Patriots from 2020-25, and was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the middle of last season to start the final nine games of the year.
Dugger’s now joining a Bengals safety room with Bryan Cook and Jordan Battle slated to start. That is very notable for an early April signing.
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What are the Bengals getting in Kyle Dugger
For starters, Dugger has been an asset for the majority of his career. He’s picked off 11 passes in 90 career regular season appearances, and his missed tackle percentage has ranged between 9.6% and 14.1% throughout his six years in the league. He even notched his third-ever pick-six against the Bengals last year.
Pittsburgh traded for him out of necessity last season and received quality play out of the veteran, according to our own Rob Gregson.
Kyle Dugger was acquired just ahead of the midseason trade deadline, and while he was inconsistent with the Steelers, there was more up than down in my opinion. The Steelers’ defense changed for the better after Dugger was inserted into the starting lineup. The team started playing more two-high shell with Jalen Ramsey and Dugger, and it made a massive difference in the turnover rate and overall functionality of the defense.
For most of his time in New England, Dugger was used as a box player. The Steelers mimicked some of that role, but he was asked to get off the hash more, and he made some notable plays on the football, evidenced by his two interceptions and five pass breakups. He’s not the same player he was early in his career, but he’s a versatile veteran who still has starter qualities and shores up depth at the very least.
Rob Gregson
A to Z Sports Pittsburgh staff writer
That Dugger has ample experience and has been trusted to start for two different clubs makes him an ideal third safety at the very least. With him in the fold, however, there needs to be a conversation about how Cincinnati addresses the safety position from here.
Bengals may not be using a high pick to draft a safety
A player like Dugger who’s started most of his career would not be joining a new secondary if the prospect of playing time wasn’t on the table. Cook signed a three-year, $40.25 million contract and is going to be out there in Week 1. Battle has been consistently praised by the coaching staff as a foundational piece among incumbent starters. Dugger may be have a shot against Battle if given the chance, but that’s three names who can start at two spots.
It all but eliminates the position from being targeted early in the 2026 NFL Draft, and the most notable player in this year’s safety class.
Ohio State’s Caleb Downs has been heavily linked to the Bengals in mock drafts this year. It would be a surprising move for them to draft a safety with the No. 10 pick after signing two experienced starters while still having Battle in the room as well.
At this moment, I’m not expecting Downs to be one of their main targets if he’s available for them to pick. They’ve replaced Geno Stone with Cook, and Tycen Anderson’s recent departure has now been compensated with Dugger.
There can still be room for a rookie to make the team. PJ Jules and Daijahn Anthony don’t have a lot of roster security rounding out the group, and a Day 3 pick would make sense to compete with them.
But Downs in the first round looks like a dream that won’t come true for Bengals fans after Dugger signs on the dotted line.
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