Despite fielding one of the better safety groups in the NFL on paper, the New England Patriots did not get the desired results out of the position in 2024. Kyle Dugger struggled with injuries; Jabrill Peppers spent a majority of the year on the commissioner’s exempt list; Marte Mapu and Jaylinn Hawkins were role players more so than starter-caliber contributors.
While the group’s outlook for 2025 will largely depend on Dugger and Peppers rebounding, the Patriots also made sure to add some more competition to the mix. One of those additions was free agency pickup Marcus Epps.