Three days after the NFL’s 53-man roster deadline, the Patriots are releasing veteran safety Jabrill Peppers in a surprise move, a source confirmed to the Herald.
Peppers projected to start this season for New England, after spending most of training camp with the first-team defense. The 29-year-old safety did take several snaps in the team’s preseason finale last week against the Giants, a decision coach Mike Vrabel explained by saying the coaching staff wanted him to get reps with fourth-round rookie Craig Woodson, another projected starter.
Over the past two seasons, Peppers started all 21 games he appeared in for the Patriots. He snatched a career-high two interceptions and forced a fumble around 78 tackles in 2023, his best season in New England. Last summer, the team signed him to a 3-year, $24 million contract extension and he was named a team captain, but a domestic violence charge kept Peppers off the field for most of the 2024 season.
He had $4.32 million guaranteed left on his contract and will leave a $4 million dead cap hit on the team’s books.
Peppers leaves behind Woodson, veteran Jaylinn Hawkins, Kyle Dugger, second-year backup Dell Pettus and special teamer Brenden Schooler in the safeties room.
ESPN first reported Peppers’ release.