Dolphins should absolutely explore doubling down on major overhaul and call intriguing new free agent from one of Miami’s fiercest rivals

The New England Patriots are releasing veteran safety Jabrill Peppers with just over a week remaining before their season opener. It's a move that has been telegraphed by the Patriots to some degree as head coach Mike Vrabel has come in and served as a disruptor in New England. The status quo of the organization has been shaken and recent significant investments like draft choices Javon Baker & Cole Strange have been pushed out.

Now, it's Peppers' turn as he cedes a safety role to rookie Craig Woodson in 2025. New England's decision to cut him is surprising on one front in particular — the Patriots reportedly owe him over $4.3 million in guaranteed salary in 2025, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. And that is precisely why Miami should be in on a bid for Peppers.

Here's how guaranteed money works for players who are cut. The team who cuts the player can get reimbursed for the difference of what another team pays once a new team signs the player in question. With this transaction coming close to the season, most teams don't have a lot of cash earmarked for big new spending and a bidding war over Peppers' services that would yield an offer in excess of what New England is paying him feels unlikely. As such, teams can, in theory, appeal to Peppers based on fit and plan to sign him to a minimum contract, which would allow the Patriots to foot the bill for most of his 2025 compensation.

By avoiding an open market bidding war, the focus can instead be on opportunity and role. Miami can appeal to Peppers on a number of fronts, including a chance to play the Patriots twice, the opportunity to earn significant snaps, and a defensive system that is looking to play with explosive physicality in the middle of the unit. Defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver recently admitted that the idea of three safeties at once (big-nickel personnel) get his brain "spinning".

"Those guys in the safety position that have that multiple skill set that can do a bunch of jobs, that’s going to create some angst in the offenses, because they’re not going to know who’s in, who’s doing what, particularly when we have three of them on the field at the same time. My brain starts immediately spinning about all the angst and hesitation you can cause an offense because they don’t know what they are going to do."

— Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver on his safety room

This is where Miami's sales pitch to Peppers can come to life. Weaver stems from a Baltimore coaching tree that masterfully implemented three safeties during the 2023 season. Miami has contenders to do the same things. But the Dolphins can appeal to Peppers by telling him that he can earn snap opportunities amid Melifonwu, Trader Jr., Davis and long-time special teamer Elijah Campbell.

If money isn't an issue, which it shouldn't be thanks to New England's guarantees lingering for 2025, then any interest in Peppers becomes a recruitment pitch. I, for one, would like to see the Dolphins double down on their reinvigorated safety room and add another possible weapon who can still play at an impactful level.

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