FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The New England Patriots are releasing veteran safety Jabrill Peppers in a surprising shake-up on the back end of their defense, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Peppers, who is in his ninth NFL season and fourth in New England, has $4.32 million guaranteed remaining on his contract for this season.

The Patriots finished training camp with six-year veteran Jaylinn Hawkins and 2025 fourth-round pick Craig Woodson as their top safeties, with Peppers, Kyle Dugger and Dell Pettus next on the depth chart.

Peppers, 29, was a favorite of former coaches Bill Belichick and Jerod Mayo for his hard-hitting, physical style of play, especially against the run -- a similar skill set to Dugger's. Peppers' fit in the new scheme employed by first-year head coach Mike

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