Starting to take a closer look at what the Patriots currently have on the roster, and the top draft prospects at each position.
Previously:
CORNERBACK
Current Roster
2022 Contract Year
Jonathan Jones
Joejuan Williams
Myles Bryant (RFA)
Terrance Mitchell
2023
Malcolm Butler
2024
Jalen Mills
Shaun Wade
Patriots Historical Drafting
Over the last 15 years, the Patriots have made 13 selections. There’s no trend on where they’ve drafted from, but they have consistently struggled to find solid contributors. They’ve targeted CB six times in the second round (Williams, Duke Dawson, Cyrus Jones, Ras-I Dowling, Darius Butler and Terrance Wheatley) which may be a good indicator of when they look to address the position.
Draft Expectations for the Position
On average there are almost four corners picked in the first round (over the last 5 years). However, there’s been 11 selected over the last two drafts. It’s a relatively deep position this year but there is a tier 1 and tier 1A. Then there is a drop off. There are 7 players who could have their number called in the first round, but I expect 4 or 5 to actually get drafted. The rest will all be picked by the end of Round 2.
The Patriots will absolutely take at least one corner at some point in the draft. While receivers should be getting easier to project to the NFL game, corners are getting harder. Many college programs run a variation of zone coverage which makes it more difficult to scout and project the transition to the Patriots' (traditional) man coverage scheme. For that reason, I lean more towards players who have strong press, man coverage skills and experience.
Potential First-Rounders
CB Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner, Cincinnati (6-foot-3, 190 pounds): He’s a first-round lock. He goes by the name “Sauce” and he’s big, long and plays with confidence. He’s very good in press coverage and his length makes it hard for QBs to complete a pass over the top. Although he’ll need to be careful with his hands at the next level (like recent Carolina pick Jaycee Horn), Sauce is decent in run support although he's going to be skinny for an NFL playing field. He’s never given up a TD in college (1,100 career snaps) and he only gave up 117 yards across 482 coverage snaps last past season. Finally, he played well in his big Cotton Bowl matchup against Alabama. He’s very good in press-man coverage. He's an outside corner at the next level and an immediate starter.
CB Derek Stingley, Jr., LSU (6-0, 190): Grandfather is former Patriot, Daryl Stingley. Derek is one of the most talented players in the whole draft. There are some that believe he could suffer a drop on draft night because he hasn’t maxed his potential, he has a foot injury (Lisfranc) and hasn’t physically tested for NFL scouts. I’m not worried about the testing numbers, his athleticism is elite, but that injury can be scary for skilled players because there’s a chance it becomes chronic.
He’ll be able to play in any scheme, he has no fear about playing press man coverage and he's as fluid as they come, especially impressive given his plus size (he plays bigger and can match physical wideouts). That all said, he’s not a completely clean evaluation. Teams will have to rectify that he was the best corner in college football as a freshman (he had 6 INTs on their national title team), but he hasn’t played to that level consistently in the last two years (only played in 10 games since). His personal defensive "ratings'' have been strong, but the LSU defense has been terrible (especially given the plethora of talent). His medicals and interview are the most important part of his evaluation.
If the Patriots are comfortable with the foot, and he’s available at 21, they should run to the podium. A great indicator of a prospect’s ability to make an impact as a rookie is how they played as a freshman in college. Stingley would make their defense better next year. However, I think he’ll be gone before they have a chance to pick him.
CB Trent McDuffie, Washington (5-11, 193): Really good player, he was a 3-year starter and first-team PAC-12. He’s not the biggest cat but compensates with his compete level. He’s played a lot of zone, he's probably the best zone corner in the draft, and it's reasonable to believe he could play man coverage (but more of a projection). Smart player reading routes and solid instincts. He’s also one of the best tackling corners in the draft, he’s only missed 6% of his tackles.
The knock on him is two-fold and fair. He has average size (with shorter arms) and limited ball production (8 PBU and 2 INTs in 28 games). If you’re picking a corner in Round 1, ideally you want them to be able to turn the ball over for your defense. Trent is a relatively clean prospect, offers a good floor evaluation that projects as a good starter. He’ll go in Round 1.
CB Kaiir Elam, Florida (6-1, 191): His greatest strength is also his curse. He has elite talent but doesn’t always play to that level. He will get drafted off traits (ran 4.39 in Indy) and experience given the fact that he has a bunch of experience in the SEC (over 1,000 coverage snaps). He profiles as an outside corner, where he can jam and not be a liability in the running game. Smaller, quick slot-type receivers are a bit more challenging for him and he had some bad penalties this year (which is a technique issue). Reportedly he interviewed well at the Combine. Xavier Rhodes is the comparison.
CB Andrew Booth, Jr., Clemson (6-0, 194): This was really his first year as a full-time starter, but he has good ball skills, good length, and great balance coming in and out of breaks. He’s not afraid to support the run but needs more discipline. Booth also needs to improve some coverage technique (comes from a largely zone scheme) but the skill is there and he’s very competitive battling WRs for the ball. He does have the ability to play in a man scheme, but he'll need some seasoning before he’s ready to make an impact in the NFL game.
CB Roger McCreary, Auburn (5-11, 190): He will be a potential target for the Patriots. He’s a scrappy player and does a good job mixing it up in both pass and run defense. Where he thrives, but needs to be careful, is anticipating routes or breaking off a route to go for an interception. He doesn’t have the CB length desired (29-inch arms) so there’s a chance he slips on draft day and/or forces teams to look at him as an inside corner. But he’s played a lot of snaps in the SEC and was first-team All-SEC. I spoke to him at the Senior Bowl, and he felt he could play any scheme but press man was the best fit for his skills. Great kid that plays like a junkyard dog.
CB Kyler Gordon, Washington (5-11, 194): This was his first year fully starting (he was first-team All-PAC-12) but he’s been on the radar because of his work in the slot and on special teams. As is key in the slot, very good in tight areas, fluid, and while he can be physical (good size) not overly “handsy” - which is a critical trait in the slot at the next level. He played more outside corner this year and fared well. Doesn't have the instincts of his teammate McDuffie but both are used to a zone scheme. His athletic traits, and work in the slot, should get him drafted on Day 1 or early Day 2.
(Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
Kaiir Elam #5 of the Florida Gators in action against the LSU Tigers during a game at Tiger Stadium on October 16, 2021 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
POTENTIAL PATRIOT FITS BY ROUND
Round 1: Kaiir Elam, Florida.
I expect Gardner, Stingley, and McDuffie to be gone by the time pick 21 is on the clock. Elam may be available in the late twenties but if they target the position he has the size, speed they covet in a CB1. Needs coaching and more consistency but he has first-round talent.
Round 2: Roger McCreary, Auburn.
Many mocks have him available at pick 54 and that would represent great value. I’d even be happy with a McCreary pick if the Patriots moved back from 21. The length is concerning but he’s a scheme fit, he has lots of experience against top talent in the SEC and brings a scrappiness to their defense that they need.
Round 3: Marcus Jones, Houston (5-8, 174).
He's an elite returner that will need to play nickel because of his size but he's a true football player. A fluid athlete with the necessary scrappiness, speed, and quickness to cover slot wide receivers. Some teams won't value him as high at corner because of his stature (he'd struggle on the outside) but the Patriots will, and should, target him because of his four down skills. He was even productive when he played WR for the Cougars.
Round 4: Coby Bryant, Cincinnati (6-1, 193).
He won the Thorpe Award this year given to the college football’s best DB. He has a ton of experience (4-year starter that appeared in 63 college games) which has helped his FBI. He's known as a leader in the program and he's a team captain. Bryant has good press skills at the LOS, challenges wideouts, and shows good timing when the ball is in the air. It's easier to project him within a zone scheme because of his average speed so a team like the Patriots would be betting on his competitive nature. He's not the flashiest guy in this class but he's instinctive and effective (45 career PBUs and 10 INTs).
Round 5: Jalyn Armour-Davis, Alabama (6-1, 197).
He played well this season but doesn’t have a ton of experience. The fact he only started for one season shouldn't be a knock on him given the Tide have deep secondary depth with lots of NFL talent. But he'll need to show some refinement and consistency before he's ready to contribute. He's faster than I expected (4.38), he has good size and he'll be able to play any scheme. This is where the connection to Alabama coach, Nick Saban (who is a former DB coach) could show up for the Patriots.
Round 6: Joshua Williams, Fayetteville St (6-3, 195).
From a lower-level perspective, there’s going to be more draft noise about Zyon McCollum (Sam Houston St) because of his incredible testing effort. That will cause him to go earlier in the draft, but I think Williams may be a better fit for the Patriots.
He's a long, fluid player who dominated at a lower level (Fayetteville St hasn't had anyone drafted in 40 years) and he’s the best Division II prospect in the draft. He’s scheme versatile but he should be able to play in the Patriots man coverage defense. He’s a gamble (as are low-level prospects) but after some development to tighten his footwork and technique the hope is that he turns into a starter.
Round 7: Jermaine Waller, Virginia Tech (6-0, 180).
He was a high school QB and then started in 2019 at CB for Hokies, creating a dynamic duo opposite last year's first rounder, Caleb Farley. He then missed most of 2020 with injuries. He had a great start to the 2021 season (4 INTs in 5 games) and then tailed off as he played through a lower body injury suffered in the game against Pitt. He ran a slow time in the 40 (4.68) which is going to hurt his draft stock. But he's a man coverage corner that is athletic, good competitor, long arms, and played through an injury. The tape also shows that he can play the long ball better than his timed speed would indicate. This is a late flier on a guy who needs more consistency but is underrated given the injury.