Over the next couple weeks, WEEI.com will take a position-by-position look at the Patriots rebuilt roster heading into training camp 2021. What’s the depth chart look like? What’s the biggest question at each position? How might the competition at each spot unfold this summer under Bill Belichick’s watchful eye? Today we look at the balance between young and old at safety.
Safety
Roster: Devin McCourty, Kyle Dugger, Adrian Phillips, Jalen Mills, Justin Bethel, Joshuah Bledsoe, Adrian Colbert, Cody Davis
Key Additions: Mills (FA, Eagles), Bledsoe (6th RD, Missouri)
Key Losses: Patrick Chung (retirement), Terrence Brooks (FA, Texans)
Predicted Starters: McCourty, Dugger
Notes: Approaching his 34th birthday in August, McCourty has started each of the 171 games he’s played in 11 NFL seasons. … McCourty started all 16 games for the fifth straight season in 2020 and the eighth time in his career. … McCourty has played at least 94 percent of New England’s defensive snaps in five straight seasons. … In his first season in New England, Phillips started all 16 games for the first time in his career and set a career-best playing 73 percent of defensive snaps. … Dugger switched his number to 23 this offseason to honor the now-retired Chung. … Mills is nicknamed the Green Goblin and sports trademark green hair. … The versatile veteran Mills started all 15 games he played for the Eagles last season, notching a career best with 92 percent snaps played.
Biggest Question: Is Dugger ready to make a big Year 2 Jump that many think could lead him toward becoming an All-Pro caliber safety?
Snapshot Analysis: The Patriots are in the midst of a bit of a transition at the safety position. Chung did not play a year ago as a COVID opt-out and then announced his retirement this offseason. That’s certainly a blow to the back end of the defense given the veteran’s unique, versatile role and leadership over the years. McCourty remains in the mix as a trusted and durable veteran, but as he hits his mid-30s it won’t be surprising if he starts to slow down a bit. In fact there may have been some signs of that with his lateral quickness and tackling a year ago. The good news is that Dugger, last year’s top pick out of Div. II Lenoir-Rhyne, has done nothing but impress everyone around him in his year-plus in New England. The youngster could very well be the next great Patriots safety in the line of Lawyer Milloy, Rodney Harrison, McCourty and Chung. Dugger has all the tools to be a force near the line of scrimmage as well as enough athleticism to be a factor in the deeper parts of the field. The veteran Phillips remains after a much-needed impressive first season in Foxborough. The former Charger jumped right into the starting lineup and the undermanned Patriots box to notch his first-career 100-tackle season. Increased depth and talent in the front seven could allow Bill Belichick and his defensive coaches to pick their spots with Phillips more in 2021, potentially decreasing his reps but increasing his positive impact. Mills joins the Patriots as a jack-of-all-trades defensive back who is actually listed as a cornerback on the Patriots.com roster. He provides some insurance depth at cornerback given the uncertainty of Stephon Gilmore’s holdout. Mills also brings an experienced backup to the free-safety spot behind McCourty, something that’s been lacking in recent years. He also should be a chess piece for Belichick to deploy in a variety of ways week to week. Beyond the top four options, New England doesn’t have a ton of depth or developmental bodies. Bethel and Davis are core special teams options. Still, the combination of aging, experienced veterans and the upside elite talent of Dugger makes the safety spot one of the foundations of what should be a very impressive New England defense this fall.
Position Rating: Very Good