The New England Patriots have released veteran safety Jabrill Peppers, ending his two-year run in Foxborough. Taylor Kyles reacts instantly to the move and what it means for Mike Vrabel’s new-look defense.
Peppers, a vocal leader and versatile defender, seemed like a natural fit in the Patriots’ secondary—but signs were there in preseason. Instead, Vrabel appears to be prioritizing youth and range with Jaylinn Hawkins and rookie Craig Woodson, while players like Alex Austin and Del Pettus could see bigger roles moving forward.
Taylor breaks down:
Why Peppers’ role in preseason hinted at this move
The impact of younger safeties Hawkins & Woodson
How Alex Austin and Del Pettus fit into the Patriots’ future plans
What this says about Vrabel’s approach to building his defense
Was the writing on the wall for Peppers’ release?🤔
“It was pretty odd that Jabrill Peppers was only used as an inside player when he had typically been a very versatile piece for the Patriots’ defense.”@tkyles39‘s FULL Reaction to the release on @PatriotsCLNS:… https://t.co/ZoFmUSXwUv pic.twitter.com/q9vBhcwWC6
— Patriots on CLNS (@PatriotsCLNS) August 29, 2025
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FLASHBACK: @tkyles39 brought up his concerns about the Patriots’ veteran safeties a day before roster cuts:
“His use has been interesting.” https://t.co/fW3vpleUx1 pic.twitter.com/XobEU5xl4U
— Patriots on CLNS (@PatriotsCLNS) August 29, 2025
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