The New England Patriots have taken care of another key piece to their defensive rotation.
The Patriots and safety Jabrill Peppers are finalizing a three-year $24 million extension worth up to $30 million, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported on Friday, according to a source with knowledge of the situation. ESPN initially reported the deal.
First-year coach Jerod Mayo confirmed the extension on Friday, applauding Pepper’s veteran leadership and play.
“Yeah, I can confirm it. I’m the head coach — I can confirm it!” Mayo told reporters. “I will say this, I will say this, I’ll confirm it. I am very happy for Peppers and for his family and also for our team and the organization. He really embodies everything that we want on the field. He’s very selfless, he’s out there flying around all the time, and it’s good to get that deal done.”
Embed from Getty ImagesPeppers did a little bit of everything in 2023, and is coming off his best season as a pro, snagging two picks, eight passes defended, one forced fumble, a sack and 78 total tackles. The safety brought some order and stabilized the back end of a secondary that was in a state of transition last season. His ability to play in the box, deep, and even take snaps in the slot or wide provided much needed flexibility. He has played in a total of 93 NFL games, with 79 starts under his belt.
The stout 5-foot-11, 217-pound Peppers teams with Kyle Dugger to form a ferocious hard-hitting, and now handsomely compensated, combination at safety.
Dugger inked a four-year, $58 million extension earlier in the offseason after initially being slapped with the transition tag by the Patriots.
A former first-round pick by the Cleveland Browns back in 2017 out of the University of Michigan, Peppers was part of the Odell Beckham Jr. trade with the New York Giants in 2019. After three seasons with Big Blue, Peppers signed a one-year deal with New England in 2022. He resigned with the team on a two-year pact last offseason. Now, the Patriots are locking down the former Wolverine for the foreseeable future.
The extension continues an offseason pattern for the Patriots, who have re-signed or extended the contracts of 11 players. Their spending ranks in the top 10 of the NFL.
Peppers is the latest in-house talent coming back to the Pats, joining running back Rhamondre Stevenson, offensive tackle Mike Onwenu, center David Andrews, tight end Hunter Henry, receiver Kendrick Bourne, safety Kyle Dugger, linebacker Jahlani Tavai, defensive lineman Christian Barmore, edge Josh Uche and linebacker Anfernee Jennings.
The burning question is whether pass rusher Matthew Judon is next up.
