Over the last few years, the Kansas City Chiefs’ defense has been highlighted by star safeties, featuring Pro Bowl-caliber players such as Eric Berry, Tyrann Mathieu, and Justin Reid.
This offseason, Justin Reid hit free agency and signed with the New Orleans Saints, and the Chiefs’ safety room became a major question mark. There is a lot of hope for young guys like Jaden Hicks, Chamarri Conner, and Bryan Cook, but the front office could still look to add another big name to that group.
In the offseason, Kansas City added Mike Edwards, who was with the team in 2023, hoping he could bring a veteran presence to that young safety room. But after a disappointing preseason, Edwards was cut in favor of 23-year-old Christian Roland-Wallace. Now the Chiefs’ secondary feels thin, especially on the back end, and they may look to make an addition before the start of the season.
Patriots are releasing veteran safety Jabrill Peppers, per source. Peppers still has $4.32 million guaranteed remaining on his contract for this season.
Peppers has started 85 games, including 26 with New England, and has totaled over 500 tackles, seven interceptions, six forced… pic.twitter.com/0D8xc5vzH7
https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/1961466054577635420?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
On Friday, the Patriots made the shocking move to release their starting safety Jabrill Peppers after a change in scheme made him expendable. Just over a year ago, the Patriots signed Peppers to a three-year extension worth $24 million, and now he hits free agency and will likely have a lot of interest.
Chiefs Must Sign Jabrill Peppers After Patriots Release
Peppers was one of the best college football players in the nation when he played at Michigan and was even a Heisman Trophy candidate in 2016. He was a first-round pick in 2017 by the Cleveland Browns and has also played for the New York Giants before signing with New England in 2022. Peppers is a versatile defensive weapon who has proven he can be used in several different roles defensively, something coordinator Steve Spagnuolo loves to see from his defensive backs.
Peppers is on the smaller side, coming in at just 5-foot-11, but carries 217 lbs and is a quality tackler in space. He doesn’t have great length, but plays incredibly physical in the slot and can stick with bigger receivers as well as tight ends. He is also an elite blitzer, giving teams the flexibility to line him up all over the field and give quarterbacks several different looks. He has even been a return man in the NFL, which could save the Chiefs some roster flexibility this season.
Peppers reminds me a lot of former Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu, who was also an undersized player but had a great feel for the game and could make an impact all over the field. Peppers is not quite the player that Mathieu was, but he could be used in a similar role that the Chiefs are missing on their current roster. Spagnuolo could make some magic happen with Peppers on his defense, and with his ability to play all over the field, would still allow the young guys to get plenty of snaps.
The Chiefs have a little bit of cap space remaining, and it is not out of the realm of possibility that they could sign him this season. Peppers is only about 30 years old, and the Chiefs could offer him a multi-year contract to reduce the cap hit this year, or even a cheap “prove yourself” contract if he’s willing.
Peppers could take the spot for Roland-Wallace, but if the team uses him as a returner, they could cut down on their receiver room by moving on from Nikko Remigio. Regardless of who they choose to move on from, Peppers would be a great fit in Kansas City and could make a major day-one impact on the team.
