Building off our 2023 Patriots depth chart and team needs, we'll take a 10,000-foot view of each need, by order of importance, with internal options to address it, free agent/trade possibilities and a quickie view of the position in the draft (plenty of time for that after free agency).
Need #1: Free safety
Need #2: Offensive tackle
Need #3: Tight end
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Team Need #4: Cornerback
On the roster: Jalen Mills (UFA 2025), Jack Jones, Marcus Jones, Myles Bryant (RFA), Shaun Wade (UFA 2025).
Futures contracts: Quandre Mosely, Rodney Randle.
Free agents: Jonathan Jones, Joejuan Williams.
The cupboard is far from bare in the cornerbacks room, even with de facto No. 1 CB Jonathan Jones being a free agent. He hits the market after proving he can play outside after being a standout slot corner for much of his career.
Jalen Mills entered 2022 as the No. 1 corner but was dogged with injuries that left him with just 45 percent playing time. Jack Jones had huge flashes of impact play — amid inconsistent play as well — as a rookie before getting hurt and then being suspended due to conflicts about his rehab. With Jonathan Jones bumped outside, Myles Bryant got the call in the slot and was a mixed bag at one of the toughest positions in the game. When injuries hit, Marcus Jones got 371 snaps (about a third of season) to show what he could do and there was definite promise there.
If Jones flies via free agency, and it's almost certain he'll test the market and likely be priced out of what the Patriots would like to pay like so many other New England-developed corners, the Patriots could line up tomorrow with Mills (a potential cap casualty) and the two Jones boys and have a solid group with a lot of upside. It will be interesting to see what tender the Patriots place on Bryant, a former undrafted free agent. Right of first refusal is projected to be $3 million. A second-round tender (compensation if a signed offer sheet is not matched) is a steep $4.9 million. A ROFR is likely for Bryant. He could get stolen by a defense-needy team that needs immediate help and knows him (like the Raiders).
So even if Jones leaves, the Patriots have good options coming back on a defense that was statistically good.
But the key question is ... is that good enough?
You could make the argument — and we have — that it is not. Sure, the pass coverage was good enough in most games, especially against weaker offenses/QBs. But against the better offenses/QBs, it was not. And we'll go one better. For a secondary, things don't get set up better than they did last season (outside having an offense that could get up against better teams) considering the Patriots had a terrific pass rush. New England was 7th in pressure created and second in sack percentage. Yes, their little games up front got exposed in some games but for the most part, the secondary got the benefit of covering against a QB without much time to throw.
If the Patriots for some reason — injury, ineffective play — take a step back in the pass rush, will these corners be good enough or was there some smoke and mirrors last season? Will they be good enough against the Bills, Dolphins, Jets (with a real QB), Chiefs, Chargers, Cowboys, Eagles and Raiders — all on the schedule next season?
The answer here is ... no, it's not good enough if the Patriots truly want to compete for a championship. The Patriots look like they won't have a high-octane offense anytime soon, so they're going to have make stops and play a team game. You need guys that affect the passer and make plays on the ball against the Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrows and Josh Allens of the NFL.
The Patriots have almost always won championships with at least one dominating cornerback, from Ty Law and Asante Samuel to Darrelle Revis and Stephon Gilmore. The Patriots would be best served finding the next great Patriots cornerback to go along with Jack and Marcus Jones, especially if Mills moves to free safety if Devin McCourty retires. Even still, Mills and the Joneses seems light (and that's before considering Mills could be a cap casualty, which would make sense if the Patriots acquire a No. 1).
Good news for the Patriots: there will be options via trade, free agency and the draft this year.
TOP-TIER FREE AGENTS
Jamel Dean, Bucs: Certainly fits the bill as a good sized (6-1) and physical corner who can match up to No. 1s. But he's by far the top option available so he'll be pricey at upwards of $17 million per and around $50 million guaranteed. Have a hard time seeing the Patriots do that.
James Bradberry, Eagles: He's a zone corner and gets exposed in man, which the Patriots play a ton of. Doesn't seem like a fit.
MID-TIER FREE AGENTS
Patrick Peterson, Vikings: Had a comeback season and despite being 33, could be a cheap stopgap option if the Patriots draft a corner at 14, or think Jack Jones can be the guy with more seasoning.
Marcus Peters, Ravens: Out all of 2021, he regained his form as a pain-in-the-ass, physical cornerback before getting hurt again. Had a standout performance in playoffs against the Bengals, which could intrigue people. Would have to be OK with his inconsistent play. Known to be mercurial — at best.
Byron Murphy, Cardinals: He's only 25 and an ascending player before a back injury limited him last season. Could be under the radar.
Isaiah Oliver, Falcons: The 26-year-old also dealt with injuries last year (after an ACL in 2021) but Dean Pees called him “one of the best defensive back games I’ve been around” late in the season. That sounds like Belichick's music.
TRADE & CAP CASUALTIES
Jalen Ramsey, Rams: Has three years left on his deal at about $16 million per season. Still believed to be an elite corner in this league on a good team. The rumored price is upwards of a first-round pick — that sounds like more hope than actuality. Guessing a future second or some combination of picks would do it. Acquiring team could restructure the contract, add a few dummy years to be more cap friendly.
Ronald Darby, Broncos: The former Bill went down with an ACL in Week 5 but he's always been tough and physical. He is more of a zone corner, but there could be some man potential here, especially at a cut rate.
Shaq Griffin, Jaguars: Carries a big cap number and Jacksonville could be looking to get younger in the secondary. Physical and smart.
DRAFT PROSPECTS
This is a quick look. We'll dive deeper into this before the draft.
COULD BE AVAILABLE AT 14
Christian Gonzalez, rSo, CB, Oregon, 6-2, 201
Devon Witherspoon, Sr, CB, Illinois, 6-0, 180
Joey Porter Jr., Jr, CB, Penn State, 6-2, 198
Gonzalez and Witherspoon would be worthy of the spot. Porter might be a little bit of a reach but a consideration in a trade down.
LATER FIRST/SECOND ROUND CANDIDATES
Deonte Banks, Jr, CB, Maryland, 6-1, 205
Kelee Ringo, rSo, CB, Georgia, 6-2, 210
Tyrique Stevenson, rJr, CB, Miami, 6-0, 204
Julius Brents, rSr, CB, Kansas State, 6-3, 202
Emmanuel Forbes, Jr, CB, Mississippi State, 6-0, 180
DJ Turner, rJr, CB, Michigan, 5-11, 180
Cam Smith, Jr, CB, South Carolina, 6-0, 188
Clark Phillips III, rSo, CB, Utah, 5-09, 183
NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah:
"It's a good corner group. I think it's a better corner group than the receiver group. This year when I look at it, I've got 20 corners with top three round grades, which is a big number. I think it's a really good group of corners.
If you are at 14, you know, I've kind of talked about those big three. For me it's Witherspoon, Joey Porter, and Christian Gonzalez, whatever order you want to put them in.
Witherspoon, when you first popped him on was just blown away with the instincts and just the natural feel and awareness, route recognition. He sees things before they develop. Sometimes you can see guys that have the athletic ability, and sometimes you see guys that really have studied film and they know how to play, and it's not common when you see guys that have all that wrapped up together. He does. He is a complete package that way.
I mean, I wish he was 200 pounds. He is not going to be. He is going to be a little bit lighter, but he just pulls the trigger. He does not play with any hesitation. He plays with ultimate aggressiveness and confidence and urgency. Then you see that and say, okay, well, let's see what happens when they hit him with double moves because sometimes you can take advantage of guys that are making plays on the ball. He doesn't fall for it. He is really, really instinctive that way. He is outstanding in zone.
Then when you want to get out of that range (14th overall), you know, to me let's see. When is the next pick? The next pick is at 46. If you are looking at pick 46, I think Kelee Ringo from Georgia is gone. Deonte Banks from Maryland is probably gone. You are looking Tyrique Stevenson. You are looking at DJ Turner from Michigan. Jartavius Martin is a nickel from Illinois. He is a really good player. That's probably like that type of a group. Riley Moss from Iowa maybe a little bit after that. He is going to fly. He is going to run really, really well. Julius Brents from Kansas State. Those are just some of the names I would tick off there that I think are really good players.
When I talk about those corners carrying top three round grades, I think those guys are all starters. Whether you want to say he is a No. 2 corner, whatever, he is out on the field when the starting line-up rolls out there. I think there's 20 of those guys."
BEDARD'S EARLY PROJECTION
I would like to see the Patriots be really aggressive here and go get a guy, like they did Gilmore. I think that would really boost them if they can handle No. 1s like Stefon Diggs and Justin Jefferson better. I think that would make them a legitimately really good defense, when they were kind of a fake good defense since Gilmore got hurt and then was shipped out.
Yes, I could see them trying to make Ramsey work. If the price is too steep, I think they enter the Dean race until it gets pricey. Then try for Peters or Peterson.
Do I think they pull the trigger and get a No. 1 CB? Yeah, I do. It's a glaring need on this team and the Joneses are small and need development. Would love to see them double up at 14 if one of the top two CBs is there, but I doubt they do if they land a pricey No. 1. I can't see Belichick deciding to go with a rookie and two second-year players in his secondary. He's already scared of youth. That would be truly stunning.