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Mike Reiss
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New England Patriots are parting ways with veteran safety Jabrill Peppers in an unexpected adjustment to their defensive lineup, according to a source who spoke with ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Peppers, now in his ninth NFL season and fourth with New England, has $4.32 million in guaranteed money left on his contract for this year.
During training camp, the Patriots concluded with six-year veteran Jaylinn Hawkins and 2025 fourth-round draft choice Craig Woodson as their primary safeties, with Peppers, Kyle Dugger, and Dell Pettus further down the depth chart.
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Peppers, age 29, was highly regarded by former coaches Bill Belichick and Jerod Mayo due to his aggressive, physical playing style, particularly against the run — akin to Dugger’s attributes. His integration into the new strategy under first-year head coach Mike Vrabel changed during training camp, as he initially took part in the first unit before being overtaken by Hawkins and Woodson in the latest weeks.
In the preseason finale on Aug. 21, Peppers was a starter in a game where most players who had already secured their roster spots were given rest. This served as the first sign that his position on the team was not guaranteed.
The 5-foot-11, 217-pound Peppers has seen action in 99 career games (85 starts), recording 494 tackles, 5.5 sacks, and seven interceptions.
