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.