The New England safety room is becoming a compelling puzzle as roster decisions loom. Kyle Dugger’s status isn’t a guaranteed starter anymore, with Sunday practice showing him menging with the second string as coach Vrabel reshapes the unit. Peppers, Hawkins and rookie Craig Woodson ran as the top three, a trio that pushed Dugger down the depth chart. Dugger’s four-year, $58 million extension from last year looms large, and teams could chase a trade or release to clear more than $10 million in cap space.

Hawkins has shined during camp and in the preseason opener, while Woodson has earned trust with solid tape and versatility. Peppers remains the veteran anchor, offering a blend of coverage and run support. The current pecking order—Peppers, Woodson, Hawkins—signals a multi-safety rotation that could shift again after cuts, making Dugger’s future in Foxboro uncertain and possibly creating impact moves for cap relief and roster balance.

Kyle Dugger’s binding Patriots tenure is under real test as training camp pace shifts away from him. After a four-year, $58 million deal, Dugger has started to lose ground to Craig Woodson in multiple drills and nickel looks, while Jabrill Peppers and Jaylinn Hawkins line up as the top safeties. The Patriots still carry a hefty cap hit ($15.3 million) with guarantees remaining, but the team’s broader culture shift away from the dynasty era and a nearly $59 million cap cushion make a roster rethink plausible.

The shift isn’t just about allocations and money. Dugger, a long-tenured starter, now faces a potential tug-of-war between a veteran fit and a Day 3 rookie’s upside. With no-look defensive concepts and a defense that prize versatility, Dugger’s role could become more situational, pressuring fantasy value. The big-picture question remains whether Dugger can reclaim a large starting role or if New England will lean into Woodson’s growth and a reorganized back end.

For fantasy managers, the signal is caution: a diminished early-season role would sap Dugger’s tackle volume and big-play upside, while Peppers/Hawkins/Woodson stand to gain. If Dugger threads a comeback to a full-time role, he could regain value, but the path appears murkier amid the culture reset and the Patriots’ cap flexibility.

Day 13 at Patriots camp delivered a tight red‑zone grind, with the defense asserting itself and the offense fighting to close drives. The session highlighted growth from young players and tightened competition across positions as New England looks to balance depth with reliability ahead of the season.

Undrafted receiver Efton Chism III kept climbing, making the play-of-the-day over Marcus Jones after a deep ball from Joshua Dobbs, following a preseason opener where he led the team in catches. The display underscored his growing trust with the quarterback and his potential to push for more targets in late‑season opportunities.

Safety Craig Woodson earned first‑team repetitions over Kyle Dugger, nearly snaring a Drake Maye pass in a diving attempt and later acknowledging he should have adjusted to the ball better in the moment. Meanwhile, rookie guard Jared Wilson continued his meteoric rise, going 3‑0 in one‑on‑one drills and stepping into a starting left‑guard role as he pressures veteran peers.

Edge K'Lavon Chaisson returned to action and tested rookie Will Campbell in team portions, signaling the Patriots’ edge depth is trending in a promising direction. KickerJohn Parker Romo stayed hot with a 4‑for‑4 out­ing, while Andres Borregales went 3‑for‑4, making the kicking competition in New England tighter than expected as training camp progresses.

The New England Patriots have officially signed rookie safety Craig Woodson, selected in the fourth round of the draft from the University of California. The details of his contract remain undisclosed. Woodson concluded his collegiate career with impressive statistics, including 70 tackles and one interception in his last season.

Despite initial skepticism regarding the Patriots selecting another safety, Woodson has made a strong impression during spring practices. His instinctive play could allow him to thrive under the mentorship of experienced veterans Kyle Dugger and Jabrill Peppers, and he may even challenge Dugger for playing time as the season progresses.