The New England Patriots made a surprising move Friday morning, releasing former Michigan standout safety Jabrill Peppers despite $4.32 million in guaranteed money left on his deal.
Peppers was expected to be a starter this season, which makes the decision even harder to make sense of. It also comes at a tricky time for the Patriots’ secondary, with the team still at a standstill on Kyle Dugger’s future after weeks of shopping him in trade talks.
A reliable veteran, Peppers has started 85 career games, including 26 in New England. Across his NFL career, he’s piled up more than 500 tackles, seven interceptions, six forced fumbles, and seven fumble recoveries.