Dugger played through a high-ankle sprain in 2024 and had surgery Jan. 9 to address the injury, Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald reports.
Dugger's ankle injury likely contributed to his decline in production, as he dipped from 109 tackles in 2023 to 81 in 2024. The strong safety projects to be back in a starting role in 2025, which will be the second season of Dugger's four-year, $58 million contract.
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Patriots' Anfernee Jennings: Sets career highs in 2024
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Jennings played in 16 regular-season games in 2024 and finished with 78 tackles (43 solo), including 2.5 sacks, one pass defense and one forced fumble.
Jennings started in all 16 games he appeared in during the 2024 season, playing at least 40 snaps in 14 of those contests while setting career highs in combined tackles and sacks. The 2020 third-round pick enters the offseason as a restricted free agent, which gives the Patriots the right to match any offer that another team puts in front of Jennings.
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Patriots' Christian Elliss: Sees more defensive work in 2024
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Elliss recorded 80 total tackles (42 solo), including 1.5 sacks, five passes defended, (including one interception) and one forced fumble over 16 games in 2024.
Elliss finished as the Patriots' third-leading tackler in 2024, setting new career highs in tackles, sacks, passes defended, interceptions and forced fumbles while playing 481 defensive snaps. The Idaho product made five starts this season, helping the Patriots' defense fill the void of the injured Ja'Whaun Bentley (pectoral), who tallied 347 total tackles from 2021 to 2023. Elliss is set to become a restricted free agent this summer, meaning the Patriots will have the opportunity to match any offer he receives. If Elliss returns to New England in 2025, he's likely to serve as one of the team's top reserve inside linebackers.
Bentley (pectoral) recorded 12 total tackles, including 0.5 sacks, over two games in 2024.
The veteran linebacker from Purdue appeared in just two games this season, missing nearly all of the Patriots' 2024 campaign after sustaining a pectoral injury early into the team's Week 2 loss to the Seahawks. Bentley signed a two-year, $13.5 million extension to stay in New England last offseason, so he's expected to remain with the team in 2025. The 28-year-old has been extremely impactful when on the field, posting 114, 125 and 109 total tackles while missing just two regular-season games from 2021 to 2023. Bentley is expected to return to his starting inside linebacker spot and likely lead New England's defense in stops again in 2025.
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Patriots' Eric Johnson: Sees more snaps late in 2024
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Johnson played in 11 regular-season games in 2024 and finished with 17 tackles (two solo).
Johnson signed with the Patriots in late August after failing to make the Colts' 53-man roster at the end of training camp. The 2022 fifth-round pick mostly served in a rotational role at defensive end behind Daniel Ekuale, Keion White and Christian Barmore (illness). However, Johnson did see more defensive snaps over the final four games of the regular season, and over that span he accumulated 11 tackles (one solo). Johnson has one more year left on his contract with the Patriots and will look to earn a bigger role with New England's first-team defense for the 2025 campaign.
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Patriots' Deatrich Wise: Productive in 2024
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Wise tallied 29 total tackles (16 solo), including 5.0 sacks, and three passes defended over 15 games in 2024.
The veteran defensive end from Arkansas saw his tackle total drop significantly from 2023 to 2024 (25 less tackles), however, he played 195 fewer defensive snaps and appeared in one less game this season. Wise also tallied 0.5 more sacks than he did in 2023, tying Keion White for the most sacks on the Patriots' defense this year. Wise has now finished the final season of a four-year, $22 million deal signed with the Patriots in 2021, making him an unrestricted free agent this summer. He's proven to be an impactful pass rusher over the last three seasons (17.0 sacks in that time), so he's expected to be coveted by teams in need of pass-rush help this offseason.
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Patriots' Sione Takitaki: Rotational role in 2024
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Takitaki finished the 2024 regular season with 21 tackles (seven solo) across 11 games.
Takitaki spent the first five years of his NFL career with the Browns, who selected him in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft. The LSU product opted to take his talents to New England, signing a two-year, $6.5 million in March of 2024. However, Takitaki underwent a knee scope procedure during the offseason, which caused the Patriots to place him on the PUP list at the start of the regular season. Takitaki missed six of the first seven games of the season, and when he did play he served in a rotational role at inside linebacker behind Christian Elliss. Takitaki could have a bigger role with the Patriots' first-team defense in 2025 if Elliss opts to sign elsewhere in free agency.
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Patriots' Jeremiah Pharms: Finishes 2024 with two sacks
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Pharms played 16 regular-season games in 2024 and finished with 33 tackles (16 solo), including 2.0 sacks.
Pharms spent most of 2024 in a rotational role on the Patriots' defensive line behind starters Keion White, Daniel Ekuale and Davon Godchaux. However, Pharms did see an uptick in snaps late in the season, playing at least 34 defensive snaps in each of the final three regular-season games of 2024, during which he accumulated 13 tackles (six solo), including 1.0 sacks. Pharms is an exclusive rights free agent for 2025, which means he would be restricted to signing a contract with the Patriots if they offer one to him. If New England doesn't offer a contract to Pharms, then he would convert into an unrestricted free agent and would have the ability to sign with any team interested in his services.
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Patriots' Dell Pettus: Impresses during rookie campaign
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Pettus recorded 34 total tackles (19 solo), including 1.0 sacks, and defended two passes over 17 games in 2024.
Pettus, an undrafted rookie from Troy, contributed on defense and special teams during his first season with New England, playing 554 total snaps (325 defensive and 229 on special teams). He started one game in place of Jabrill Peppers (hamstring) in 2024, recording nine total tackles on just 69 percent of the Patriots' defensive snaps. Pettus is under contract through the 2026 season, so he's expected to remain in New England next year and compete for a depth role in the team's secondary throughout the offseason.
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Patriots' Jaylinn Hawkins: Makes seven starts in 2024
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Hawkins tallied 48 total tackles (27 solo) and defended one pass over 17 games in 2024.
The California product served as New England's top reserve safety this season, and with Jabrill Peppers (hamstring) missing nearly two months on the commissioner's exempt list, Hawkins had the opportunity start seven games. He was productive during his time on the field, posting the second-highest tackle total of his career while playing 581 defensive snaps. He's now set to become an unrestricted free agent after signing a one-year, $2.9 million deal with New England last offseason. Hawkins is likely to serve as a reserve safety again in 2025, whether with the Patriots or another team.
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Patriots' Daniel Ekuale: Career year in 2024
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Ekuale recorded 52 total tackles (24 solo), including 1.0 sacks, over 16 games in 2024.
The 31-year-old defensive lineman had the most productive season of his career with New England in 2024, surpassing his previous career high in total tackles by 38. Ekuale also played more than double his previous high for defensive snaps in a season (344 to 693), appearing in all but one of the Patriots' games. He's now set to hit unrestricted free agency after completing the final season of a two-year, $3.4 million deal with New England. Ekuale is expected to be an attractive target on the free-agent market for teams seeking interior defensive line help.
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Patriots' Keion White: Shows improvement in 2024
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White tallied 56 total tackles (31 solo), including 5.0 sacks, defended five passes and forced two fumbles across 17 games in 2024.
White was a bright spot on the Patriots' defense in his second season in the NFL, improving his totals in tackles (26 to 56), sacks (1.0 to 5.0), passes defended (three to five) and forced fumbles (zero to two) from his rookie campaign. He tied Deatrich Wise for the most sacks on New England's defense and accumulated 45 total pressures on the season. With two years remaining on his rookie contract, White is expected to remain in New England in 2025 and continue building on his productive sophomore campaign.
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Patriots' Jonathan Jones: Fails to haul in INT in 2024
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Jones played in all 17 regular-season games in 2024 and finished with 58 tackles (41 solo), six pass defenses and two forced fumbles.
Jones tied with Marcus Jones (hip) for third-most tackles on the Patriots' secondary behind Kyle Dugger (81) and Christian Gonzalez (59). Jones has spent his entire nine-year NFL career with the Patriots since signing as an undrafted free agent in May of 2016. He enters the offseason as a free agent, and whether he stays in New England will depend on the vision of incoming head coach Mike Vrabel.
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Patriots' Davon Godchaux: Finishes 2024 with 67 tackles
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Godchaux played in all 17 regular-season games in 2024 and finished with 67 tackles (43 solo) and one pass defense.
Godchaux has played in every single regular-season game since joining the Patriots in 2021 and led the defensive front in tackles in 2024. His 67 combined tackles were his most since 2019 when he played for the Dolphins (75). Godchaux signed a two-year, $18 million contract extension with the Patriots in July of 2024, and the veteran nose tackle out of LSU is expected to lead the defense in 2025 under incoming head coach Mike Vrabel.
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Patriots' Kyle Dugger: Records 81 tackles this season
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Dugger finished the 2024 regular season with 81 tackles (55 solo), and 1.0 sacks in 13 games.
After logging a career-high 109 tackles in 2023, 2020 second-rounder wasn't able to hit the century mark this past season, while missing four games. Dugger signed a four-year, $58 million deal with the Patriots in April, so he'll be back to reprise his starting safety role with the franchise in 2025.
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Patriots' Jahlani Tavai: Team leader in tackles
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Tavai finished the 2024 regular season with 115 tackles (58 solo), a sack and an interception in 17 games.
In his fourth season with the Patriots, Tavai set a career high mark in tackles while leading the team in that category. The 28-year-old is under contract with New England through 2027 and is thus set to remain a key part of the defense in 2025 while maintaining his role as a starting linebacker for new head coach Mike Vrabel.
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Patriots' Marte Mapu: Not returning to Sunday's game
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Mapu (neck) will not return to Sunday's matchup with the Bills, Taylor Kyles of CLNSMedia.com reports.
The safety left the game in the first half after making one solo tackle. Mapu has 45 tackles (23 solo), six pass breakups, including an interception, and three forced fumbles on the year. Dell Pettus might be in line to see more snaps in his absence.
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Patriots' Anfernee Jennings: Active for Week 18
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Jennings (knee) is active for Sunday's regular-season finale against Buffalo.
A lingering knee injury limited Jennings in practice all week, but the 2020 third-round pick will suit up Sunday. Through 15 regular-season games, Jennings has posted career bests in combined tackles (72) and sacks (2.5).
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Patriots' Kyle Dugger: Will play against Buffalo
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Dugger (ankle/quadriceps) is active for Sunday's game against the Bills.
Like he's done for most of the season, Dugger will play Sunday through multiple lower-body injuries and will start at safety alongside Marte Mapu. Dugger has logged 27 tackles (18 solo) in the three games since the Patriots' Week 14 bye.
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Patriots' Jabrill Peppers: Lands on IR due to hamstring injury
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The Patriots placed Peppers (hamstring) on injured reserve Saturday, Chris Mason of The Springfield Republican reports.
Peppers was already ruled out for Sunday's regular-season finale against the Bills due to a foot injury, and his placement on injured reserve gave the Patriots space on the 53-man roster to sign corner Miles Battle from the practice squad. Peppers managed to play in only six regular-season games due to suspension and injuries, and he'll finish 2024 with 40 tackles (20 solo), two pass defenses (including one interception) and one forced fumble.
