FOXBORO, Mass. — The New England Patriots dished out yet another contract on Friday, reportedly agreeing to a three-year extension with safety Jabrill Peppers.
Head coach Jerod Mayo confirmed the extension while speaking to reporters moments after the news broke. Let’s get into his comments, the details of the contract, and why re-signing Peppers was a smart move for New England.
Reported Details of Jabrill Peppers’ Contract Extension
Peppers was set to hit free agency next spring. His new deal is worth $24 million over three years with a max value of $30 million, according to ESPN’s Field Yates. Mayo didn’t remark on the contract details while meeting with reporters before Friday’s training camp practice.
“I am very happy for Peppers and for his family,” Mayo said. “He really embodies everything we want on the field. … It’s good to get that deal done.”
Jerod Mayo confirms and comments on the Jabrill Peppers extension, first reported by @FieldYates pic.twitter.com/APdHVvUqI2
— Dakota Randall (@DakRandall) July 26, 2024
Peppers’ extension arrived just over three months after the Patriots gave safety Kyle Dugger a new four-year, $58 million contract. The two deals give New England a tough, play-making safety duo for at least the next few seasons, with sophomore Marte Mapu also a potential factor.
Peppers is coming off a season that saw him rack up 78 tackles, including five for a loss, one sack, one forced fumble, two interceptions, and eight pass breakups.
PFN Analysis: Extending Peppers a Wise Move By Patriots
The Patriots must establish an identity as they enter their post-Bill Belichick era. In building around players like Peppers, the Patriots clearly are prioritizing physicality and hard-nosed football, especially on defense.
Peppers, one of the most vocal players on New England’s roster, is a leader in the locker room and a tone-setter on defense. If you’ve ever watched a Patriots joint practice since Peppers arrived in Foxboro, you know he’s one of the best trash-talkers in the NFL.
But Peppers is much more than a loud, intense player. He’s a very good safety, one who ranked second among all Patriots defensive backs in tackles last season, first in pass breakups, and tied for first in interceptions. He seemingly is always around the ball and makes at least one big play every game.
If you’re into Pro Football Focus grades, Peppers was PFF’s fifth-ranked safety in 2023.
The Peppers move also continues New England’s offseason trend of re-upping its top internal players. The following players have either re-signed or were extended since the start of the offseason:
- Jabrill Peppers
- Christian Barmore
- David Andrews
- Jahlani Tavai
- Rhamondre Stevenson
- Kendrick Bourne
- Hunter Henry
- Kyle Dugger
- Josh Uche
- Anfernee Jennings
“It makes us all want to work harder,” Stevenson said Wednesday when asked about the Patriots dishing out so many contracts. “I don’t want to speak for everybody, but playing for the Patriots, it’s a great organization, so I wouldn’t imagine anyone wanting to leave. So, yeah, it gives people hope that they could continue their career here.”
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Of course, one player notably absent from that list is edge rusher Matthew Judon, who wants a new contract and has been open about being “jealous” and “envious” about his teammates receiving new deals.
It’ll be interesting to see whether the Peppers extension further disgruntles Judon or serves as a precursor to the star pass rusher landing a new deal.