Sources say Gabriel Peppers and New England Patriots have agreed a one-year deal

PALM BEACH, FL – New England Patriots and free agent safety Gabriel Peppers They have reached an agreement on a one-year deal worth up to $5 million, sources told ESPN Tuesday.

Peppers, 26, has spent the past three seasons with the New York Giants — the last two as a captain under former coach Joe Judge, who has returned to the Patriots as an offensive assistant coach.

Last year, the judge expressed his desire for the Peppers to return to the Giants team in 2022, and now the two are networking again in New England.

The 5-foot-11, 215-pound Pepper joins a safety group led by an old captain Devin McCurtyold warrior, Adrian Phillips And a third-year player Kyle Dogger. Visited with the Patriots on Monday.

The Peppers’ 2021 season ended prematurely when he tore an anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during his week six win over the Carolina Panthers. Sources told ESPN that he is expected to be ready to start the bootcamp.

The New Jersey native came to the Giants from the Cleveland Browns in a trade centered around a wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.. During the 2019 season, Peppers had the most productive season of his career in 2020 when he had 91 tackles, 2.5 sacks, interceptions and 11 assists.

The Cleveland Browns’ first-round selection began in 2017 59 from 61 games and included 333 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 4 interceptions, 4 assists, and 25 assists he defended in his professional career.

Jordan Raanan of ESPN and Field Yates contributed to this report.