Patriots Release Jabrill Peppers: A Surprising Shift in the Defense
In an unexpected move that shakes up the defense, the New England Patriots have decided to release veteran safety Jabrill Peppers, according to sources.
Peppers, who is in his ninth NFL season and fourth with the Patriots, has $4.32 million guaranteed in his contract for this season.
In the closing of training camp, the Patriots had Jaylinn Hawkins, a six-year veteran, and Craig Woodson, a fourth-round pick in 2025, as their primary safeties. Peppers, Kyle Dugger, and Dell Pettus remained on the depth chart.
Peppers was appreciated by previous coaches, Bill Belichick and Jerod Mayo, for his physical and forceful playing style, especially against the run, a quality similar to Dugger’s. However, his adaptation to the new scheme implemented by head coach Mike Vrabel was evolving during the camp.
In the last preseason game on August 21, Peppers started in a game where most of the players who had already secured their place on the team rested. This was the first sign that his place on the team was not guaranteed.
Peppers, standing at 5 feet 11 inches and weighing 217 pounds, has played in 99 career games (85 starts), accumulating 494 tackles, 5.5 sacks, and seven interceptions.
