New England Patriots - NESN.com
The New England Patriots caught many bystanders off guard by releasing Jabrill Peppers on Friday. A report indicates the organization didn’t rashly decide to part with the veteran safety.
A front-office member of another organization told ESPN’s Mike Reiss that the Patriots mentioned Peppers in trade talks. Reiss wrote in his Sunday column that the source wasn’t surprised the Patriots cut the 29-year-old.
Reiss also explained that a scheme change under head coach Mike Vrabel contributed to the decision.
“The Patriots are prioritizing a different style of play from their safeties than what former coaches Bill Belichick and Jerod Mayo valued at that position,” Reiss said. “That’s the short answer as to why starter-turned-backup Jabrill Peppers was released Friday, and why starter-turned-backup Kyle Dugger was no certainty to be on the initial 53-man roster.”
Reiss suggested the new system doesn’t place as much emphasis on Peppers’ ability to play downhill. The former first-round pick lost starting reps to Jaylinn Hawkins and rookie fourth-round pick Craig Woodson this summer.
Salary doesn’t appear to have factored much into the move, as Peppers was guaranteed $4.3 million this season regardless. However, Reiss noted that Peppers would have made $5.1 million in each of the next two seasons.
NBC Sports Boston’s Phil Perry previously clarified that the release was unrelated to any off-field issues. Peppers was found not guilty on assault and battery charges earlier this year.
Peppers appeared in just six games last season, tallying 40 tackles, an interception and a forced fumble. He recorded 178 tackles in 38 games with the Patriots from 2022 to 2024.
