Kyle Dugger has been a key defensive player for the New England Patriots since being selected by the team in the 2020 NFL Draft. And the team rewarded him this offseason with a big-time contract extension. 

However, it seems the Patriots aren't the only ones who have noticed and are impressed by Dugger's talent. 

Every season prior to training camp, ESPN surveys league executives, coaches and scouts to rank the top 10 players at 11 positions. And on July 11, they released the list of safeties.

And Dugger became the first Patriots player to crack the top 10 since ESPN began these lists on Monday. 

The executives, coaches, and scouts have Dugger ranked at No. 8 overall. He was ranked as high as No. 1 by some, while also being unranked by others. Last year, he received an honorable mention. 

"He's always been physical and a smart football player, but he's become more of a complete player every year," an NFL personnel executive told ESPN. "He will physically strike you."

The Patriots placed the transition tag on Dugger earlier this offseason, and followed it up with a four-year deal worth a base value of $58 million with a maximum value of $66 million. Dugger will receive $32.5 million in guaranteed money. 

The safety has played 371 snaps at free safety, 478 snaps in the box and 168 in the slot in 2023.

Last season specifically, he had two interceptions and seven pass breakups. 

"He had 15 pressures, third among safeties, and was tied ninth in Pro Football Focus pass rush win rate (15.4%) for safeties with at least 10 pass rush snaps. Dugger had 109 total tackles including six for a loss. Per Sports Info Solutions, as a run defender Dugger had a positive play rate allowed of 33.9%, second among safeties with at least 50 tackles behind Jessie Bates of the Atlanta Falcons." A to Z Sports' Nicholas McGee wrote in April. 

Extending Dugger was a priority for the Patriots. Jerod Mayo made that much clear at the 2024 NFL Combine. 

"With Dugger, I would say last year going into the season, there were some questions about can he communicate and all those things. He squashed all of that last year. He did a fantastic job in his new role without having Devin there," Mayo said in February. “You definitely want those pieces to stay. Going back to what I talked about earlier, you develop through the draft, so if those guys say, obviously, they’ve been raised here and they can help push the culture forward.”

Fellow Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers also received votes, but did not make the list of receive and honorable mention. 

#Patriots S Kyle Dugger was listed on ESPN's "Execs, coaches, scouts rank NFL's top 10 safeties for 2024"

He came in at No. 8.

Jabrill Peppers also received votes, but did not make the list or receive an honorable mention pic.twitter.com/XTxSoBrazG

— Sophie Weller (@sophieewellerr) July 11, 2024

Executives, coaches, and scouts give Patriots’ Christian Barmore an honorable mention on list of top 10 DT in the NFL

He’ll be in the top 10 in no time.