Does the Bengals' Signing of Safety Kyle Dugger Alter Their Chances of Drafting Caleb Downs?

The Cincinnati Bengals signing of Kyle Dugger today harkens back to the catchphrase rippling through the NFL Scouting Combine in February:

Force multiplier.

Dugger is a safety who can back up Bryan Cook and Jordan Battle and give the Bengals the kind of depth they haven’t had in years.

But he is so much more than that. In addition to safety, he can line up in the slot, at linebacker or even occasionally on the edge.

He’s the kind of do-it-all player many project Ohio State safety Caleb Downs to be, someone who will allow defensive coordinator Al Golden to present different looks without having to substitute.

But signing Dugger doesn’t mean the Bengals are out on Downs.

Not even close.

Dugger, 30, signed a one-year deal. He’s a stopgap.

Downs would be a cornerstone.

Dugger has postseason experience and was a captain in New England in 2024.

He’s exactly the type of veteran leader you would want sitting next to a rookie such as Downs in meetings, on the sideline and in the locker room.

And while Dugger has experiencing lining up in the slot – more than 400 snaps in his final three years in New England – he’s not going to be thrown into that spot to man cover some the quickest, shiftiest receivers in the league the way Downs would be asked to do.

Dugger’s slot snaps often lead to him covering tight ends or blitzing, something he has done well.

Last year, in which Dugger played seven games with the Patriots and nine with the Steelers, Pro Football Focus graded him as the third best pass rushing safety behind Tennessee’s Kevin Washington Jr. and Baltimore’s Kyle Hamilton.

Dugger had a 23.3 percent pressure rate in 2025 and a 20 percent win rate.

The additions of Dugger and cornerback Ja’Sir Taylor, who also agreed to a one-year deal Thursday, are depth signings, as well as insurance policies.

If Downs is off board when the Bengals pick at 10, this Dugger signing will look even better.

Dugger still is effective as a free safety with multiple interceptions in four of the last five years, including a 73-yard pick six against Joe Flacco and the Bengals last year.

‘Ain’t Really Do Too Much’: Kyle Dugger Not Taking ‘Extra Credit’ For Pick-Six #Steelers #NFL #Pittsburgh https://t.co/9P9YrlFhpC
— Steelers Depot 7⃣ (@Steelersdepot) November 16, 2025

Of course, whenever the topic of safety play comes up in Cincinnati, you are contractually obligated to talk about tackling statistics.

Dugger missed three tackles last year for 5.1 miss percentage (Geno Stone had 26 and 20.0, and Battle had 21 and 15.8).

So if you’re holding out hope for the Bengals to draft Downs, today’s Dugger signing should not alter your hope meter in the slightest.

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