Unexpected release continues Patriots youth movement

If so, he'll join several young players with prominent roles for New England this season. Per Spotrac, the Patriots have the league's sixth-youngest roster with an average age of 26.3 years. It's a far cry from as recently as the early 2020s, when New England consistently had among the 10 oldest rosters.

Although it signed several veterans, including wide receiver Stefon Diggs, 31, cornerback Carlton Davis, 28, edge Harold Landry, 29, linebacker Robert Spillane, 29, and center Garrett Bradbury, 30, among others, to contracts worth $362.1M ($192.9M guaranteed) this offseason, New England's average age only slightly increased from 2024.

The team's core primarily consists of younger, less experienced pros. Releasing Peppers, who missed eight games last season following an arrest on assault charges — he was later acquitted — and another three due to a hamstring injury, pushes the Patriots further in that direction.

In addition to second-year quarterback Drake Maye, four of their six wide receivers are 24 or younger, including third-year wideouts DeMario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte and rookie third-rounder Kyle Williams and undrafted free agent Efton Chism III.

Rookie first-rounder Will Campbell is set to start at left tackle, while fellow 2025 draftee Jared Wilson is competing with second-year pro Caedan Wallace for starting left guard.

The Athletic NFL reporter Jeff Howe described the team as being "ecstatic" about second-rounder TreVeyon Henderson on Friday.

"Don't be surprised if he turned into their lead option," Howe added.

New England's success, in 2025 and beyond, could hinge on its younger players' developments. The organization certainly can't afford another 2022-style disaster.

On Tuesday, the Patriots released guard Cole Strange, leaving just one member of their 10-member 2022 draft class (cornerback Marcus Jones) on the roster. The 2023 and 2024 classes aren't off to promising starts, with nine of the 20 draft picks no longer on the team.

Despite the poor recent track record, oddsmakers are optimistic. A week before the season kicks off, the Patriots have the second-best odds (+550) to win the AFC East. New England's over-under win total is set at 8.5, the team's highest in three seasons, when it was coming off a 10-7 record and wild-card appearance.

If the Patriots exceed expectations, they'll have finally done something right in the draft after years of swings and misses. Some rookie classes will get to ease into the pros, but New England's has no such luxury.