Patriots cut Jabrill Peppers after August trade chatter, clearing the way for Woodson and Hawkins to open Week 1 at safety as New England faces the Raiders. Dugger remains on the roster but slides into a backup role, signaling a scheme shift away from Peppers’ fit under the new staff.

With Dell Pettus and Brenden Schooler behind them, the Patriots lean toward versatile talent over veteran consistency. For fantasy, that means Peppers’ exit narrows his floor, while Hawkins/Woodson could offer value if early-season snaps land their way, and Dugger’s usage will be a key watch in Week 1.

New England released Jabrill Peppers, a surprise move that clears significant cap space while reshaping the Patriots’ safety corps. Peppers, once atop New England’s aggressive scheme, carried a $4.32 million guarantee as the club pivots under Mike Vrabel. The savings—$1.46M in 2025 and $6.75M in 2026—gives the Pats flexibility to chase upgrades or keep core pieces intact. Peppers’ Pro Bowl 2023 production contrasted with an uneven 2024 season marked by controversy and injury, leaving his exit as a strategic reset rather than a blip.

In Peppers’ absence, the Patriots’ safeties now center on Kyle Dugger, Jaylinn Hawkins, Dell Pettus, Brendan Schooler, and rookie Craig Woodson. New England’s defense remains multifaceted, with Peppers’ versatility leaving a void for a unit that thrives on cross-training and physical play on early downs. The move signals more roster tweaks ahead as New England finalizes its 2025 plan.

New England released Jabrill Peppers, a ninth-season veteran, signaling a shake-up behind the Patriots’ defense. With Peppers off the roster, Jaylinn Hawkins and Craig Woodson emerge as the top safeties, while Kyle Dugger and Dell Pettus remain in the mix behind them. Vrabel’s new scheme has forced a reallocation of run-stopping duties, and Peppers’ run-physical style will be missed at the back end. The move tightens the depth chart but introduces uncertainty for fantasy managers tracking Patriots safeties.

Peppers’ departure creates immediate fantasy implications: Hawkins and Woodson could see expanded roles, with Dugger likely to stay versatile but perhaps lean more toward coverage duties. Pettus’ depth could provide late-season streaming value, especially if injuries surface. Early preseason usage showed Peppers still in the mix, but the shift to Hawkins/Woodson signals a recalibration of the Patriots’ back-end alignment for the Vrabel era. Fantasy squads should monitor Woodson’s rookie impact and Hawkins’ box-level involvement.

In the wake of this change, expect a tighter, more opportunistic safety corps in New England. For fantasy purposes, target Hawkins and Woodson as upside picks in best-ball formats, while Dugger’s workload may hinge on how often the team employs multiple safeties in the box. Pettus could become a speculative deep option if New England leans heavily on depth pieces during early-season stints.

Jabrill Peppers was shockingly cut by the New England Patriots after landing on the 53-man roster and being viewed as a starter and locker-room leader. Peppers quickly responded by amplifying his status, retweeting a Pro Football Focus stat that ranked him fourth among safeties with a 90.1 grade over the past two seasons. New England will lean on rookies Craig Woodson and Jaylinn Hawkins at safety, with Kyle Dugger continuing as a depth option alongside Dell Pettus and Brenden Schooler. The DB group is poised to look very different this season, signaling big fantasy implications for the Patriots’ back end and any players stepping into expanded roles.

For fantasy managers, the Peppers surprise sets up opportunities for Woodson, Hawkins, and Dugger to emerge as value plays if injuries or usage shift. Pettus and Schooler remain interesting for special-teams-heavy formats and potential snaps. This reshaped Patriots safety corps could push several players into more prominent roles as the season unfolds, making late-round targets and waiver wires worth tracking for IDP and dynasty leagues alike.

The New England safety room is becoming a compelling puzzle as roster decisions loom. Kyle Dugger’s status isn’t a guaranteed starter anymore, with Sunday practice showing him menging with the second string as coach Vrabel reshapes the unit. Peppers, Hawkins and rookie Craig Woodson ran as the top three, a trio that pushed Dugger down the depth chart. Dugger’s four-year, $58 million extension from last year looms large, and teams could chase a trade or release to clear more than $10 million in cap space.

Hawkins has shined during camp and in the preseason opener, while Woodson has earned trust with solid tape and versatility. Peppers remains the veteran anchor, offering a blend of coverage and run support. The current pecking order—Peppers, Woodson, Hawkins—signals a multi-safety rotation that could shift again after cuts, making Dugger’s future in Foxboro uncertain and possibly creating impact moves for cap relief and roster balance.