How Patriots Using Transition Tag On Kyle Dugger Impacts Mike Onwenu

Mike Onwenu will become a free agent if he and the New England Patriots cannot come to terms on a contract extension before the start of free agency.

Free agency starts March 13, two days after the legal tampering period.

The Patriots on Tuesday placed the transition tag on safety Kyle Dugger, as first reported by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. The transition tag, which isn’t used often, means the Patriots will have the right to match any other offer Dugger receives in free agency. It’s more or less similar to restricted free agency.

It also means Onwenu will not be tagged. NFL teams can’t use both the transition tag and the franchise tag in the same offseason, as shared by ESPN’s Mike Reiss.

The deadline to use the tag is Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET.

Both Dugger and Onwenu were viewed as the most likely candidates for the tag. Dugger will earn $13.81 million in 2024.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated.