Proposed 49ers Trade Acquires Patriots Starter After Best NFL Season.
The San Francisco 49ers haven’t made many splashes this offseason, but a new trade proposal has them adding a New England Patriots DB. Jabrill Peppers has is approaching his ninth NFL season, but that kind of experience and reliability is something San Francisco could use.
Bleacher Report writer Maurice Moton thinks Peppers is a fit as a versatile defensive back option. With experience at every position in the secondary, the former Michigan Wolverine could backup or start almost anywhere.
“San Francisco can explore the trade market for a playmaking defensive back, though,” Moton wrote on April 1. “It needs a third safety with Talanoa Hufanga recovering from a torn ACL and Ji’Ayir Brown going into his second season. For veteran insurance, the 49ers could acquire Jabrill Peppers, an athletic defensive back who’s played both safety spots and slot cornerback in seven campaigns.”
The logic is solid. Hufanga was a revelation in 2022, but his ACL tear last year means his future isn’t nearly as certain. Brown also looks promising, but San Francisco did bench him at one point for Logan Ryan.
San Francisco is trying to make the most of their “Super Bowl window,” and providing that kind of depth quality is how teams separate themselves from the rest.
Peppers Takes Talents to Patriots
As a first-round draft pick in the 2017 NFL draft, Peppers joined the Cleveland Browns and was an immediate starter. But Peppers had clear growing pains during his first two seasons, and was eventually used as a trade piece during the Cleveland Browns’ move for WR Odell Beckham Jr.
The New York Giants acquired Peppers in that deal, but he was still waiting to break out. Despite forcing three fumbles in 11 games, a tranverse process fracture cut his season short in 2019. There was plenty of reason for optimism, but it wouldn’t be until 2020 that Peppers properly lived up to his first-round potential.
According to Pro Football Reference, Peppers totaled 11 passes defended, 2.5 sacks and 8 tackles for loss in 2020. He also added an interception and forced fumble for his best NFL season yet.
