Overview
- ESPN analyst Bill Barnwell proposed New England sending safety Kyle Dugger and salary relief to Houston for running back Dameon Pierce ahead of the Nov. 4 deadline.
- Dugger is under a four-year, $58 million deal through 2027 and was demoted in August, with his 2025 playing time limited after New England reportedly explored trading him during cutdowns.
- Barnwell’s framework assumes the Patriots would absorb about $5 million of Dugger’s 2025 salary to make a deal feasible for the Texans.
- Pierce, a 2022 fourth-round pick, has logged just 23 offensive snaps this season and multiple healthy scratches, positioning him as low-cost depth for a team seeking backfield help.
- Coverage cites fit-based reasons for the match, with New England needing a replacement after Antonio Gibson’s ACL tear and Houston thin at safety plus GM Nick Caserio’s prior role in drafting Dugger.