Bengals Poaching Kyle Dugger Could Help Steelers Land Ohio State Star

PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers signed Jaquan Brisker and agreed to terms with Darnell Savage in free agency. Along with DeShon Elliott and Sebastian Castro, the two additions should complete the team's safety room in terms of veterans.

Kyle Dugger may have been a backup plan. The 30-year-old safety spent half the season in Pittsburgh last year, starting nine games and recording two interceptions, five pass deflections, a sack and 42 tackles.

If Savage was unable to sign for whatever reason that is holding up the deal, Dugger may have gotten a phone call from Pittsburgh. That was, until he signed with the Cincinnati Bengals. And while signing with an AFC North rival is never ideal for the Steelers, it may open the door for Pittsburgh to make a splash in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Coincidentally, Dugger's deal in Cincinnati comes just after Pittsburgh Steelers insider Gerry Dulac hinted that the team could move up for a safety in the first round of the draft.

"They are not going to move up to take a guard. And there are enough WRs that they don't need to give up a prime draft pick merely to move up. Now safety....?"

That was Dulac's response in his recent chat for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette when asked about what position the Steelers would move up for.

Bengals Open the Door for a Major Trade

What if the Bengals' signing of Dugger removes their need for another big-name safety? With the 10th pick in the NFL Draft, Cincinnati could be eying a few names, including Ohio State star Caleb Downs. Unless Dugger removed the need enough for the team to look elsewhere.

If the Steelers are interested in trading up for a safety, Downs is likely the top of their list. If somehow Downs makes it out of the top 10, that may be the mark they're willing to let hit before they start making phone calls. And at pick No. 11, the compensation may be low enough to make a move.

Once out of the top 10, the price tag to trade up drops considerably. The Steelers will still need to give up their first-round pick at No. 21 and likely a second or third-rounder as well. But chances are, it removes any conversation of multiple first-round picks, making it realistic for them to make the move and justify it with the understanding that they need their first-rounder next year to look for a quarterback.

All the Bengals need to do is pass up on Downs if he slides to them. From there, the Steelers become a real threat to make a splash for him. And maybe Dugger just helped them pull it off.

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