Kyle Dugger Lands With Bengals on One-Year Deal After Pittsburgh Exit

The Cincinnati Bengals are quietly bulking up their secondary, and they just added some serious depth at safety. Kyle Dugger, the former Steelers defensive back, signed a one-year contract with Cincinnati on Thursday. It's a move that gives the Bengals another veteran option in their secondary rotation heading into the 2026 season.

Bengals Building a Safety Room

Dugger joins a safety group that already includes new free agent signee Bryan Cook and Jordan Battle. Cook was one of the Bengals' marquee additions this offseason, inking a three-year deal worth $40.25 million. Battle, now in his fourth year in the league, is being counted on as one of Cincinnati's ascending defenders moving forward. Adding Dugger to that mix gives the Bengals options across the back end of the defense.

How Dugger Got to Cincinnati

Dugger's journey to the Bengals started in Pittsburgh. The Steelers acquired him from the New England Patriots at last season's trade deadline, shipping out a 2026 sixth-round pick to land the 2020 second-rounder along with a 2026 seventh-round pick. Pittsburgh made that trade because starting strong safety DeShon Elliott went down with a season-ending injury, leaving a hole the organization needed to fill immediately. Once Dugger arrived, he made an impact, playing nearly 100% of defensive snaps for the Steelers down the stretch.

Now Dugger gets a fresh start in Cincinnati, joining a defense looking to take another step forward in 2026.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.