As the NFL offseason heads toward free agency and the draft, all 32 teams must assess their own talent before they begin anew the roster-building process. With that in mind, WEEI.com is taking a position-by-position look at the state of the Patriots roster as the team embarks one of the most important offseasons in franchise history.
Safety
Returning players (GS/GP, 2020 defensive play time): Patrick Chung (COVID opt-out), Devin McCourty (16/16, 95 percent), Kyle Dugger (7/14, 51 percent), Adrian Phillips (16/16, 73 percent)
Free agents: Terrence Brooks (2/14, 25 percent), Cody Davis (0/13, 1 snap)
2020 recap: New England had a relatively strong trio of safeties in 2020, once again led by captain and former first-round pick McCourty. But the group had a new look to it with Chung opting out of the season due to COVID-19, while the veteran free agent addition Phillips and top pick Dugger joined the fun in Foxborough. The 11-year veteran McCourty started all 16 games for the fifth straight year. Though he wasn’t as productive or consistent as he was a year earlier, McCourty still finished fourth on the team with 68 tackles along with two interceptions and six passes defensed. With Chung out of the mix and the linebacker spot undermanned, Phillips and Dugger shared the strong safety role and in-the-box duties. Phillips was a revelation even if pushed around at times by opposing linemen, starting all 16 games and leading the team with career-high 107 tackles after coming over from the Chargers. Phillips also added a sack and a pair of interceptions to his impressive debut in New England. Likewise the second-round rookie Dugger, out of Div. II Lenoir-Rhyne, notched a solid first NFL season. The total package athletically, Dugger did not seem overwhelmed by the jump in competition as he started half the games he played in as Bill Belichick’s third safety. He finished fifth on the team with 59 tackles and showed the combination of size and speed that breed plenty of optimism moving forward. While the bulk of the safety reps went to the top trio, the veteran Brooks saw rotational action finishing with 20 tackles. The Patriots were fortunate to stay healthy at the safety position and get what they needed out of the two newcomers alongside the mainstay McCourty at safety last fall.
2021 projection: The Patriots start from a position of relative strength at the safety spot moving forward, even if Father Time is a concern. McCourty may be starting to show his age, but he’s still competitive and the unquestioned leader of the back end even after openly discussing retirement at the Super Bowl couple years ago. Phillips turns 28 this month and should have plenty tread left on the tire after seven NFL seasons. He’d never started more than seven games before last season and could have room for growth as he becomes more consistent as an every down player in the Patriots defense, especially if he doesn’t have to play essentially a linebacker role every down moving forward. Dugger could be primed for a huge Year 2 Jump as he gains experience and comfort. Some have even compared the youngster to Seahawks three-time Pro Bowler Jamal Adams with similar All-Pro potential. Even if he doesn’t reach those heights just yet, Dugger’s role should only grow. As such, it’s not hard to envision Chung as the fourth safety in New England in 2021 as he returns from a year away from the team. Given the respect and admiration Belichick has for Chung, and the fact that the 33-year-old safety would cost more to cut ($7.9 million according to Spotrac) than to keep ($5.1 million), he still seems likely to have a role with the team. With 11 seasons of action under his belt and having not started 16 games since 2016, Chung’s best days are likely behind him. But that doesn’t mean he can’t help out both as a leader and a rotational playmaker even if he notched no sacks/interceptions/forced fumbles/fumble recoveries for the first time in his career last we saw him in 2019. One concern with the safety group moving forward is that there is no backup or developing young player behind McCourty in the free safety role. In fact beyond the top four options at safety, there isn’t a lot of developmental depth at this point at the position. Those roles are probably more likely to go to versatile cornerbacks like free agent Jason McCourty or former second-round pick Joejuan Williams.
Draft/free agency need – Moderate: Assuming McCourty doesn’t fall off a cliff and get old overnight, the top of the Patriots safety depth chart is still solid. But the lack of an option at free safety behind McCourty, who’ll turn 34 in August, is a concern. Adding an athletic younger player at the position – either through free agency or the draft – would add a layer of insurance to the back end that will face plenty of passing tests once again as the supposed strength of the New England defense. It’s possible that Dugger’s development and Chung’s return could help limit the consequences of any continued McCourty fall-off. But adding an athletic depth option to the safety position could certainly be a spot to target for Belichick and Co this offseason.