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Patriots, 49ers Make Surprise Trades Ahead of NFL Deadline
28 Oct
Summary
- Patriots trade DE White, safety Dugger in separate deals
- 49ers acquire White for 2026 draft picks to boost pass rush
- Patriots send Dugger to Steelers for 6th-round pick
As the 2025 NFL trade deadline approaches on November 4th, the New England Patriots and San Francisco 49ers have made a series of surprising moves to retool their rosters.
On Tuesday, the Patriots traded defensive end Deatrich White to the 49ers in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round pick. As part of the deal, the 49ers will also receive a 2026 seventh-round selection. White, a 2023 second-round pick, has recorded six sacks in his three-year NFL career but had fallen out of favor in New England, being a healthy scratch in their most recent game.
In a separate trade, the Patriots sent safety Kyle Dugger and a seventh-round pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for a sixth-round selection. Dugger, a six-year veteran with the Patriots, has started four games this season and ranks 62nd out of 88 strong safeties according to Pro Football Focus.
The moves come as a bit of a surprise, as the 6-2 Patriots currently lead the AFC East. However, the team has been bolstered by the emergence of rookie quarterback Drake Maye, and they recently signed safety Marcus Jones to a three-year, $36 million extension.
The 49ers, who currently sit at 5-3, have been in need of an edge rusher since star Nick Bosa went down with an ACL tear in Week 3. White's addition should help shore up their pass rush as they make a push for the playoffs.
