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Patriots release hard-hitting former captain in shocking move (report)
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- Patriots release hard-hitting former captain in shocking move (report)
The New England Patriots aren’t done with their surprising roster cuts yet. On Friday, they dropped a shocker.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter , the Patriots are cutting veteran safety Jabrill Peppers , who was in line to play his fourth season in New England .
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Peppers’ contract makes it clear that this was not a move to save money under the salary cap. According to Schefter, Peppers still had $4.32 million in guaranteed money on his contract. According to Over The Cap , cutting Peppers this season actually costs New England $550,000 in cap space because of all the dead money the team will be saddled with.
The 29-year-old Peppers is known for his athleticism and ability to deliver hard hits from the safety position. He was one of the Patriots’ top safeties in 2024 and was a captain for much of the season. His captain status was removed after an off-field arrest and suspension.
In October of 2024, Peppers was arrested and charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery on a family/household member and strangulation or suffocation. Peppers was found not guilty on the domestic violence charges .
Peppers was placed on the commissioner’s exempt list following the arrest and was reinstated after missing seven games.
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The move marks the latest change at the safety position for the Patriots under Mike Vrabel. Previously, Peppers had been one of the team’s top safeties along with Kyle Dugger . But during the 2025 preseason, both Dugger and Peppers appeared to drop down the depth chart. Both veterans played deep into the third preseason game, which indicated that their spots on the roster could be in question.
There was a lot of attention paid to Dugger’s role on the Patriots defense and whether he would be traded or cut. Ultimately, it’s Peppers who is the odd man out.
With Peppers gone, expect players like Jaylinn Hawkins and rookie Craig Woodson to move up into starting roles in 2025.
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Read the original article on MassLive .
