Starting to take a closer look at what the Patriots currently have on the roster, and the top draft prospects at each position.
Previously:
SAFETY
Current Roster
Devin McCourty (Contract Year), Jabrill Peppers (Contract Year), Kyle Duggar (2023), Cody Davis (2023), Justin Bethel (2023), Adrian Phillips (2024), Joshuah Bledsoe (2024).
Patriots Historical Drafting
Over the last 15 years, the Patriots have made 12 selections. Besides Kyle Duggar (Lenoir-Rhyne), every one of them has come from a major conference. In that span, they used their first pick in the draft on a safety three times; Brandon Merriweather (Miami), Devin McCourty (Rutgers), Duggar (Lenoir-Rhyne). The Patriots nailed four picks, McCourty, Patrick Chung (Oregon), Logan Ryan (Rutgers), and Nate Ebner (Ohio St). Duron Harmon (Rutgers) and Merriweather were passable players.
Draft Expectations for the Position
There hasn’t been a safety selected in the first round the past two drafts. Before that, the trend was between 2 to 3 safeties selected in the first round. This year I expect 2 safeties to be selected, maybe as high as 3. There are 4 potential first-rounders but only one lock, Kyle Hamilton (Notre Dame). Hamilton might be the cleanest prospect in the draft, and I see him as a top 5 selection. It’s rare for a safety to be selected in the top 5, the last one was over 10 years ago (Eric Berry, Tennessee). The last safety to be selected in the top 3 (Eric Turner, UCLA) was picked by Bill Belichick when he was coach of the Cleveland Browns. That was 30 years ago.
It remains to be seen whether the Patriots will address the position in the draft. While reasonable to expect this may be McCourty’s last season, and finding a replacement should be a priority, the addition of Jabrill Peppers and carrying that many safeties makes it less likely. A big part of their evaluation will be how they feel about Joshuah Bledsoe, who they drafted last year out of Missouri but essentially redshirted with an injury.
Bedard's Take: The Patriots added the Browns' former first-round pick on Tuesday with a one-year deal worth up to $5 million. He was one of Joe Judge's favorite players with the Giants, before he torn his right ACL in Week 6 last season. He's always been a talented player who can play linebacker as well, but the Browns and Giants never really figured out how to use him. It stands to figure that Bill Belichick, if Peppers gets healthy, can figure it out. Despite many safeties, Peppers could probably play a lot of linebacker here and up the speed in the front seven.
Potential First-Rounders
S Kyle Hamilton, Notre Dame (6-foot-4, 220 pounds): He's long, with elite range, and scheme versatile. Hamilton is an impressive young man, and he can be a favorable matchup for defensive coordinators. I think he’s arguably the cleanest prospect on the board if medicals check out (and I don't anticipate an issue). He ran 4.59 at the Combine but his tape shows good speed and range so I wouldn’t be worried about it. I am not normally in favor of a safety going in top 5, but he's the type of player you make an exception for because he has All-Pro talent and makeup.
S Daxton Hill, Michigan (6-0, 192): I wrote about Dax in Week 2 and said, “not a household name but the scouts certainly know who he is. He has gamebreaking talent. Very strong in coverage, especially for a safety. The best safety Michigan has had since Jabrill Peppers. With a good season, he will cement himself as a top 60 player.” His best traits are his versatility and plus athleticism. He lines up at both corner (primarily slot) and free safety. He’s smooth and ran fast at the combine (4.38) which matches the tape.
S Jaquan Brisker, Penn St (6-1, 199): The best box safety in the class and he’s really improved his pass coverage this year. He’s physical, talented, and played with nagging injuries, which scouts will like and appeals to his toughness and leadership traits. He has very good instincts, trusts them, and puts himself around the football. Will need to improve eye discipline. Early Day 2 with the potential to be selected in Round 1.
S Lewis Cine, Georgia (6-2, 199): He’s been on the field for the Bulldogs since his freshman season and he had an impressive combine effort. Cine is a good tackler and physically brings the wood (he knocked current Falcon, Kyle Pitts, out of a game two years ago). He does a good job reading routes but can sometimes get caught flat in coverage. It’s key he doesn’t let the receiver get into him early because that's how he gets beat. He’s a top 60 pick although it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if he was taken in the back of Round 1. His best fit is probably as a SS in a zone scheme.
(Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Michigan Wolverines defensive back Daxton Hill (30) battles with Iowa Hawkeyes wide receiver Nico Ragaini (89) during the Big Ten Championship Game between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Michigan Wolverines on December 04, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium, in Indianapolis, IL.
POTENTIAL PATRIOT FITS BY ROUND
Round 1: Dax Hill.
Potential Patriots target and he reminds me of Devin McCourty.
Round 2: Jaquan Brisker.
Not sure if Brisker will be available but he’s a top 50 pick. He’s not going to be for everyone, but I like him more than Cine. I’ve written a lot about Jalen Pitre (Baylor) this season. I was an early fan before he put together a season that won DPOY in the Big 12. He definitely has a lot of the traits the Patriots target in their prospects but he’s more of a box player that is better coming forward than in coverage. Unless they think he’s the next Tyrann Mathieu they can get better value later in the draft.
Round 3: Alontae Taylor, Tennessee (6-0, 199).
Taylor is regarded as a team leader, especially since he didn't transfer when many of the top players within that program did. He’s aggressive but grabs more than I’d like. He has the attributes to play zone corner (length, some press skills, good diagnosis skills, etc.) but he'll struggle with shiftier NFL players. Unless the Patriots change their scheme, I think his best fit is at safety. He has enough size, is physical in run support, and a positional change unlocks his speed and recognition skills. As always with the Patriots, special teams matter in their evaluation and he's a good gunner.
Round 4: Kerby Joseph, Illinois (6-1, 203).
First-year starter that is more of a free safety because of coverage range and fluidity (but not a great tackler). He has great length (wingspan is 6-foot-8) which will help in coverage. He's really gotten noticed this season because of his ball skills (5 INTs). The big concern is that he didn't really play much until his senior year at a program that doesn't have a ton of depth. The Patriots will have him well scouted because of the connection to head coach, Bret Bielema.
Round 5: Verone McKinley III, Oregon (5-10, 198).
The size will be an issue for some teams, he's built like a CB, and he only has average speed, but his recognition ability allows him to be a scheme versatile FS. He makes plays on tape but isn't going to wow scouts throughout the pre-draft process. But he’s productive; second on the Ducks in tackles (77), led the country in INTs (6) and was first-team All-PAC-12. He’s the son of a high school coach; scrappy and instinctive (6 of his 11 career INTs have come in the end zone). Like Rodney Harrison (without the size) in that some opposing players think he's dirty. His teammates call him "The General" and he’d fit right in the Patriots locker room.
Round 6: Yusuf Corker, Kentucky (6-0, 203).
He’s a 3-year starter and a team leader for Kentucky. While he’s far from perfect in coverage, he does occasionally flash with a great play which shows some promise. Word is that he has a really strong football IQ and that matches the instincts shown on tape. While he misses too many tackles, it doesn't seem to be an effort thing more of an angle issue. Corker will contribute on special teams right away for an NFL team.
Round 7: Leon O’Neal, Texas A&M (6-0, 204).
He was a leader within the Aggie program and started 32 games in the SEC. While he was more fluid than I expected at the Senior Bowl, generally he's a box safety who can play physical but can also appear stiff against top-tier athletes or play designs. He had a really good game in the upset win against Alabama. He will need to offer value as a special team’s player and depth piece to make a roster early on.