New England Patriots: Ranking the AFC East's Secondaries: Volume 3
In the first two volumes, we covered the two teams I believe will have the best secondaries in the NFL. For a recap, I ranked the Miami Dolphins one and the New York Jets two. You can view either ranking article by clicking on the team name above. In volume two, I mentioned that the […]
In the first two volumes, we covered the two teams I believe will have the best secondaries in the NFL. For a recap, I ranked the Miami Dolphins one and the New York Jets two. You can view either ranking article by clicking on the team name above. In volume two, I mentioned that the competition for the second-place position was between two teams. After careful consideration, I elected to put the New York Jets in the second spot, which leaves the New England Patriots in third place.
3.) New England Patriots
To address the question that may be on the minds of Patriots fans, the reason I slightly leaned towards the Jets for the second-place ranking is due to the emergence of cornerback Sauce Gardner. He is already recognized as one of the league's top cornerbacks, despite just completing his rookie season. On the other hand, the strength of the Patriots' secondary lies mostly in their depth, with many unproven players, relying heavily on the defensive expertise of Bill Belichick.
Undoubtedly, the rookie cornerback Christian Gonzalez is the most intriguing player in the Patriots' secondary. The Patriots spent the 17th overall pick on him despite draft analysts widely considering him to be one of the top-ten players in the draft, making the Patriots' investment viewed as a steal by many.
I will be releasing an in-depth film review on Gonzalez eventually, but for the sake of an overview, he currently showcases more athleticism than refined technique as a cornerback. However, under the guidance of defensive mastermind Bill Belichick, he could quickly capitalize on his rare physical tools. In college, he exhibited glimpses of what his potential ceiling could look like and that is an elite shut-down cornerback. If he can live up to his physical skillset, there is a strong possibility that he will emerge as one of the premier cornerbacks in the entire NFL.
Much like the Jets, the Patriots have another cornerback who flashed excellence in his rookie season: Jack Jones. However, there is a significant hurdle for Jones to overcome as he currently faces legal charges following an arrest last month. If convicted of all charges, he could potentially face a lengthy prison sentence of up to 30 years. The situation surrounding Jones is still unfolding, and it remains uncertain how the state will handle his case. Even if he manages to avoid significant prison time, there is a possibility of an NFL suspension looming over him as well.
Jones flashed game-changing ball-hawking ability despite only being on the field for approximately 38% of the total snaps. In his limited playing time, he only allowed a 50% completion percentage and 63.1 passer rating in coverage, both very good numbers. Although his rookie season was relatively short, it showcased his potential. If Jones can remain on the field in 2023, steer clear of any further trouble, and continue his development, he has the potential to become a special player.
However, the reason for the uncertainty surrounding Jones lies in his significant off-the-field issues, which date back to his college years and contributed to an extended college career. That is why he turns 26 in only his second year in the NFL. These concerns regarding his character and personal conduct raise questions about his long and short-term reliability.
The Patriots drafting Gonzalez had a trickle-down effect too. In the 2022 season, the Patriots lacked size at the cornerback position, with most of their players measuring below six feet in height. This situation necessitated the team to move slot cornerback Jonathan Jones to an unfamiliar outside cornerback role. While Jones performed adequately in his new position, he struggled when matched up against taller and elite outside wide receivers, such as Stefon Diggs.
It is projected that for this upcoming season, the two primary outside cornerbacks will be Christian Gonzalez and Jack Jones. This allows Jonathan Jones to move back inside to his natural position of slot cornerback, where he has been amongst the league's best year in and year out.
The Patriots also have an ultra-talented three-way player in Marcus Jones, who is also going into his sophomore season. Marcus Jones's role in the league is a bit undefined moving forward, but he was a jack-of-all-trades in 2023, being the first rookie in NFL history to score a touchdown on offense, defense, and special teams. Jones has the makeup and lateral agility to be an elite slot cornerback. Unfortunately, Marcus Jones will likely never take extended snaps at outside cornerback due to his small size (5'8", 187 lbs). There is a role for him somewhere, as he is an elite athlete and has proven he can be effective everywhere. He could be the heir-apparent to Jonathan Jones in the slot, but his 2023 usage remains to be seen.
The Patriots lost what has been the heart and soul of their defense for over the last decade in free safety Devin McCourty to retirement. There is no clear replacement, but we do know the team tried out cornerback Jalen Mills and rookie linebacker/safety hybrid Marte Mapu at free safety in minicamp. Early reports suggest it will be a "by committee" approach, utilizing Jalen Mills, linebacker/safety hybrid Jabrill Peppers, linebacker/safety hybrid Adrian Phillips, and maybe some Marte Mapu. I would expect the team to use significantly less single high coverage compared to previous years, as they don't have a true free safety with the ranginess to replace Devin McCourty.
| Player | Coverage Grade at Safety(2020) | Coverage Grade at Safety(2021) | Coverage Grade at Safety(2022) |
|---|---|---|---|
Jalen Mills | 55th/88 | NA | NA |
Adrian Phillips | 5th/88 | 3rd/94 | 28th/86 |
Jabrill Peppers | 66th/88 | NA | 79th/86 |
Devin McCourty | 43rd/88 | 43rd/94 | 29th/86 |
I can confidently say the Patriots will have a good defense in 2023. The team has the depth and potential high end talented paired with a defensive mastermind in Bill Belichick. The reason they're coming in as my third-ranked secondary in the AFC East is due to the unproven nature of the corners. If they play to their potential, they could easily be one of the best secondaries in the NFL, but with virtually no evidence, it's a projection.
The loss of McCourty can't be understated either. He may have been in his twilight years, but he was still a true centerfielder at free safety with the speed to play single high. There is no clear player in this secondary who can provide the leadership and veteran presence needed to analyze offenses, direct players to the right positions, and effectively replace McCourty. It remains to be seen if this defense reaches its ceiling, but the floor should also be high with Belichick leading the way.
Featured image via Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
