Patriots DC sees Kyle Dugger, Anfernee Jennings as fits in defense
FOXBORO — Every summer, one of the hot topics among the Patriots fanbase entering training camp is surprise trade/cut candidates.
Now four weeks into training camp, two players who could be on the outs, based on preseason snaps and practice reps, are safety Kyle Dugger and outside linebacker Anfernee Jennings. Dugger and Jennings are both long-time starters in the Patriots’ defense, so it’s been surprising to see them seemingly buried on the depth chart and playing deep in preseason games.
Jennings took advantage of the opportunity in Saturday’s preseason win over the Vikings with 2.5 sacks. Dugger also made a game-clinching interception but almost gave the game away with an ensuing fumble.
Patriots defensive coordinator Terrell Williams was asked if he views Dugger and Jennings as fits in the team’s new defensive scheme.
“Yeah, of course they’re fits. I mean, they play hard, they play physical. So, I mean, everybody’s competing for jobs right now,” Williams said.
“In my mind, there is no depth chart right now. We’re just playing guys. So, I don’t know what they were before or we don’t really look at that. So they’re out there competing, just like the rest of the guys. So doesn’t matter what your status was or what people think it should be, everybody’s out there competing, and those guys are doing a good job.”
Williams said that when head coach Mike Vrabel and the new defensive staff was hired, they told players that their past experience didn’t matter and that everyone would have to compete for a job.
Many players, like Christian Gonzalez, Jabrill Peppers and Christian Barmore, have resumed their starting status. Jennings has seemingly been passed by Harold Landry and K’Lavon Chaisson, while Jaylinn Hawkins and Craig Woodson are playing over Dugger.
“You don’t inherit positions just because you were there last year,” Williams said. “So I think Kyle’s done a good job of competing and all those guys, Hawk, I mean, all of them have done a good job. Craig is a rookie. Those guys have been good. So they’re all competing for jobs right now.”
The Patriots will trim their roster from 90 players down to 53 by Aug. 26 at 4 p.m. ET.
Jennings and Dugger were both re-signedt to new contracts last offseason.
Jennings hasn’t practiced Monday or Tuesday since Saturday’s preseason game. He would be an ideal fit for a defense that values stout run-defending edge setters. He has a cap hit of $5.3 million in 2025. If traded, a new team would inherit $1.85 million in base salary and $750,000 in per-game roster bonuses and $1.5 million in potential incentives. If Jennings is cut, the Patriots would free up $3 million in cap space and take on $2.35 million in dead money.
Dugger has a cap hit of over $15 million. If cut, the Patriots would free up just $1 million in cap space while taking on $14.25 million in dead money. A trade seems prohibitive unless the Patriots eat the majority of his salary. A new team would otherwise inherit a $9.75 million fully-guaranteed salary and an additional $1 million in per-game roster bonuses.
from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/MYrR4P1
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