Our next positional preview is at safety, where the Pats might sneaky have the best duo in the league. There’s also plenty of questions behind the Top 2 guys…
Under contract: Jabrill Peppers, Kyle Dugger, Dell Pettus, Joshua Bledsoe, Marte Mapu, Jaylinn Hawkins, Brendan Schooler
Positional breakdown: The re-signing of Kyle Dugger was obviously important, but Jabrill Peppers is entering the last year of his deal and needs a new contract. One would hope that it gets done during the season, but those two make up arguably the best safety duo in the league right now. Peppers is the physical and emotional tone setter for the defense while Dugger is just about as solid as they come, with an edge in his run defending over his pass defending. As long as they’re healthy, these guys being on the field keeps this defense as at least a Top 10 unit in the league. Peppers is now 28 years old and entering his eighth NFL season after making 52 solo tackles in 2023. Peppers also had a forced fumble, fumble recovery, eight PBU’s and one pick. Meanwhile, Dugger is also 28 and entering his fifth NFL season. Last year, Dugger had 71 solo tackles, a forced fumble, seven PBU’s and two interceptions.
Marte Mapu enters his second year and there’s reason to believe he can be an impact guy. Ever since minicamp last year it was pretty apparent he could be one of the team’s most versatile players at either linebacker or safety. He’ll probably do both this year too, but as a start, physical presence out there, New England’s depth at the position might be extremely underrated. Mapu finished up his rookie campaign playing in all 17 games. Mapu had a PBU, an interception and a forced fumble to go along with 12 solo tackles. Don’t be surprised if the 6’3″ 230lbs. moose ends up taking another step forward into a feared physical player this season.
One guy you’re going to probably see more on defense is Brendan Schooler, at least, that’s what it seemed like during OTA’s. Schooler has been a premier special teamer for the Pats and is ideally your next Matthew Slater-type leader on special teams. Schooler probably got a lengthier look at safety during minicamp because not everyone was there during the voluntary portion, but he is long and big (6’1″ 210lbs.) and could give you some extra depth there if he shows he can play. Entering his third year in the league, Schooler has 27 total tackles and four fumble recoveries over his first two seasons.
Josh Bledsoe is an intriguing, still bit of an unknown guy as well. After being drafted in 2022, Bledsoe hasn’t seen much action and bounced on and off the roster last year. The 5’11” 207lb. out of Missouri should have a spot on the team, but after those first four it’s certainly up in the air, assuming Mayo wants to carry no more than four or five safeties on the roster.
The other guys Jaylinn Hawkins and Dell Pettus are the definition of complete unknowns. Hawkins is 26 and has played four seasons in the NFL with Atlanta (three) and he split time between the Falcons and Chargers in 2023. In his career, Hawkins has played in 58 games, starting 25 of them. He’s got one fumble recovery (a TD) and 135 total tackles (72 solo). He’ll be battling it out with Pettus, Pettus has spent the last five years at Troy University, playing in 14 games each of the last two seasons. Last year, Pettus had 39 solo tackles, four PBU’s and two fumble recoveries.