The New England Patriots are keeping one of their core defenders around. Veteran defensive back Jabrill Peppers has been a key figure in the team's defense last season. Now, the Patriots are rewarding him with a new deal. Ari Meirov reports that Peppers has signed a new contract worth $24 million.
“The #Patriots and versatile DB Jabrill Peppers have reached agreement on a 3-year extension worth $24M with upside to $30M, per @FieldYates. New England rewards yet another highly productive player.”
Peppers' versatility was on full display last season for the Patriots. The safety established himself as a clear starter last season for a strong defense. He logged two interceptions, one forced fumble, and 78 tackles in 2023. Those are strong numbers and an improvement from his lackluster 2022 campaign.
In addition to that, Peppers has been a consistent member of the Patriots' special teams unit. His improved defense meant that he saw less time on kick and punt returns (seeing just 29% of ST snaps), but he was still an asset there. Still, Peppers' improvement led the coaching staff to have him focus more on that side of the ball.
Patriots' 2024 season preview
Peppers will rejoin a Patriots defense that was ranked as one of the best units in football last season. Even with Matthew Judon and Christian Gonzales out for a good chunk, New England still fielded an elite unit. They allowed just 301.6 yards per game, which featured a stretch where they allowed only 181.1 passing yards per game in eight weeks.
Judon and Gonzales will be making their return in 2024, giving the Patriots defense a much-needed boost. Before his injury, Judon was on track to be one of the best linebackers last season. Meanwhile, Gonzales was off to a hot start in his rookie campaign before a brutal injury ended his season prematurely.
New England is hoping that this defense continues to keep their form for next season. Whether it's Jacoby Brissett or third-overall pick Drake Maye starting, the Patriots will need to hold opponents to low-scoring games to win. It's going to be a challenge for Maye to navigate the NFL and how to dissect defenses.
With new head coach Jerod Mayo at the helm, there will be a lot of changes to the team moving forward. Keeping as much continuity as possible is important for their success. Locking down one of their best defenders is a good way to give Mayo some breathing room.
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