INDIANAPOLIS — The Patriots have an offer on the table to impending free-agent safety Kyle Dugger, a source confirmed to the Herald.

Dugger is set to hit free agency when the new NFL league year starts on March 13 at 4 p.m. ET. Other teams can begin engaging his agents in contract talks starting on March 11, when the league’s legal tampering period begins.

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Dugger and offensive lineman Mike Onwenu are candidates to receive the franchise or transition tag before the March 5 deadline, though new head coach Jerod Mayo told reporters this week that the team would prefer to reach a longer-term agreement.

Dugger is one of the top free-agent safeties set to hit the open market. The transition tag would cost the Patriots nearly $14 million, while the franchise tag is just over $17 million.

Mass Live first reported Dugger’s contract offer.