With the Patriots’ 2018 season done, we’re going to take a look back at the team by position, and provide a few thoughts as to what they might need at that spot moving forward. So far, we’ve put the offense under the microscope, as well as the special teamers. Our defensive snapshots kicked off with the defensive line, and then proceeded with the linebackers. Now, we’ll finish things off with the defensive backs.
2018 depth chart: Cornerbacks Stephon Gilmore (45 tackles, 2 INTs, 1 sack), J.C. Jackson (24 tackles, 3 INTs), Jason McCourty (70 tackles, 1 INT), Jonathan Jones (56 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 3 INTs), Keion Crossen (14 tackles), Duke Dawson, Eric Rowe (IR); Safeties Devin McCourty (82 tackles, 1 INT), Patrick Chung (84 tackles, 1 INT), Duron Harmon (38 tackles, 4 INTs), Obi Melifonwu (3 tackles)
Contract status: Gilmore (signed through 2021), Jackson (signed through 2020), Jason McCourty (free agent), Jones (restricted free agent), Crossen (signed through 2021), Rowe (free agent), Dawson (signed through 2021), Devin McCourty (signed through 2019), Chung (signed through 2020), Harmon (signed through 2020), Melifonwu (signed through 2019).
Overview: We can sing the praises of the linebackers and defensive line all day, but the defensive backs were the stingiest defensive unit of the year from start to finish. A big part of that was Gilmore, who had one of the best seasons of any defensive back in recent franchise history, taking on the best receivers in the league on a weekly basis and capping his year with a key interception in the Super Bowl.
After leading the league with 18 pass breakups – New England Patriots CB Stephon Gilmore finished the regular season as the highest-graded cornerback pic.twitter.com/z4So5vdGeX
— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) January 8, 2019