The Patriots are gearing up for their Week 1 matchup against the Raiders, set to kick off in less than a week. It was anticipated that the team had completed its major roster changes, but a surprising move came on Friday.
In an unexpected turn of events, expected starting safety Jabrill Peppers was released. This decision was particularly shocking, as it was Kyle Dugger, the other starting safety, who had been mentioned in trade rumors.
Dugger had a disappointing season in 2024 after signing a significant extension last offseason. He continued to underperform this summer under new head coach Mike Vrabel, leading to speculations about his potential trade or release over the past few months. Ultimately, Dugger was retained on the final roster, while Peppers was let go instead.
Recent reports suggest that Peppers’ release wasn’t entirely out of the blue. In Mike Reiss’s Sunday column for ESPN, he disclosed that the Patriots had indeed explored trading Peppers before making the decision to cut him.
“One front office source from an NFL team said Peppers’ name had surfaced in trade discussions earlier in August, so the Patriots’ choice to part ways with him didn’t come as a surprise to that team,” Reiss reported.
Nevertheless, it remains surprising that news of Peppers being on the trade block didn’t reach the media sooner. It was widely known that Dugger and Anfernee Simmons were available in trade talks, but Peppers was largely considered a strong candidate to remain on the roster as a starter.
In the absence of Peppers, and with Dugger now positioned as a backup, it appears that rookie Craig Woodson and standout Jaylinn Hawkins will take on starting safety roles. Dugger, Dell Pettus, and Brenden Schooler are the remaining safeties on the roster.
Reiss also commented that Peppers may not fit well within the new defensive scheme, emphasizing that the move wasn’t driven by any off-field troubles.
“The Patriots are emphasizing a different style of play from their safeties compared to what former coaches Bill Belichick and Jerod Mayo prioritized at that position,” Reiss noted. “This explains why Jabrill Peppers, who has transitioned from starter to backup, was released on Friday, as well as why Kyle Dugger’s place on the 53-man roster was uncertain.”
Image Source: Jabrill Peppers @ Instagram
