Jabrill Peppers Reacts to Patriots Release, States Case for Next Contract on New Team

Jabrill Peppers will not suit up for the New England Patriots for a fourth season.

ESPN's Adam Schefter noted Friday that New England released the safety even though he still has $4.3 million guaranteed remaining on his deal. Peppers spent the past three seasons in New England's secondary but will now be looking for a new home and reacted accordingly on Monday:

ESPN's Mike Reiss reported on SUnday that "One front office source from an NFL team said Peppers' name had come up in trade discussions earlier in August, so the Patriots' decision to cut ties with him didn't come as a surprise to that team."

The Michigan product appeared in just six games last season in part because he was placed on the NFL's Commissioner's exempt list following his arrest on charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

While he was removed from the list in late November, he appeared in just two more games for the rest of the season because of foot and hamstring injuries.

In January, ESPN reported a jury acquitted him of the charges.

Peppers entered the league as a first-round draft pick of the Cleveland Browns in 2017 and played the first two seasons of his career for the AFC North team. He then played three years for the New York Giants before joining the Patriots.

His best season from a statistical standpoint came in 2020 for New York when he posted 91 tackles, 11 passes defended, 2.5 sacks, one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. 

In limited action last year, he finished with 40 tackles, two passes defended, one interception and one forced fumble.

Peppers will turn 30 years old this season, but he was in line to potentially start in 2025 for a Patriots team looking to take a leap under new head coach Mike Vrabel. The timing of the move is notable because it came just more than a week before the season opener on Sept. 7 against the Las Vegas Raiders.