This offseason, the New England Patriots signed veteran safety Marcus Epps to a one-year, $4.4 million deal to help bolster the team’s safety depth behind starting free safety Jabrill Peppers. But as training camp kicks off on Wednesday, it’s fair to wonder if Epps will ever play a snap in a Patriots uniform.
With roster battles heating up, attention naturally turns to predicting who will survive the final cuts and earn a spot on the 53-man roster. If the Pats decide to keep only four safeties, Epps may find himself on the outside looking in.
Last season, the team featured Peppers, Kyle Dugger, and Jaylinn Hawkins, all of whom have NFL starting experience. And in the fourth round of this year's draft, the Patriots selected former Cal safety Craig Woodson, who has plenty of upside.
Marcus Epps May Find Himself as the Odd Man Out in New England
That leaves Epps as the fifth option on the depth chart. His situation is made even more uncertain by his injury history. Epps appeared in just three games last season after suffering a torn ACL, but prior to that, he was one of the more dependable safeties in the league.
From 2021 to 2023, during stints with the Philadelphia Eagles and Las Vegas Raiders, Epps missed only one game while recording 222 tackles and two forced fumbles—a stretch that speaks to both his consistency and toughness.
There’s no question Epps can still be productive when healthy, and if he doesn’t crack the Patriots’ final roster, he should attract interest on the open market from teams seeking a veteran safety.
I would love to see Marcus Epps suit up for the Pats this season. His experience and reliability could prove valuable in a position group filled with question marks beyond the top two. But unless he turns in a standout training camp performance and proves he’s fully recovered, the numbers game may ultimately work against him.
Training camp is full of surprises—but right now, Epps faces an uphill climb in Foxborough.