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.
Cornerback
Returning players (GS/GP, 2020 defensive play time): Stephon Gilmore (11/11, 62 percent), Jonathan Jones (7/16, 72 percent), Joejuan Williams (0/15, 17 percent), Myles Bryant (0/9, 15 percent), D’Angelo Ross (practice squad), Dee Virgin (Lions), Michael Jackson (0/1, 4 snaps)
Free agents: Jason McCourty (11/16, 65 percent), J.C. Jackson*(11/16, 84 percent)
*Restricted free agent
2020 recap: The Patriots fielded an experienced, productive, veteran secondary last fall that was the strength of the defense. Though the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Gilmore wasn’t as productive as a year earlier when he led the league in interceptions (6) and passes defensed (20), he still was the backbone of New England’s back end. Gilmore did miss time to COVID, a knee issue and a quad injury. Through it all, Gilmore was still the Patriots best cornerback when on the field and earned the toughest matchups, finishing the year with 37 tackles, one interception and three passes defensed. While Gilmore’s production dropped, Jackson’s continued to take off in the former undrafted player’s third season. Jackson finished second in the NFL with nine interceptions, pushing his three-year career total to an impressive 22. Considered by some to be a future No. 1 cornerback, Jackson did have his ups and downs as a fill-in top dog when Gilmore missed time. Still, the ball-hawking youngster was a major net positive in the secondary. As Jackson’s career takes off, McCourty’s looked to be winding down. The veteran struggled at times in coverage and with his tackling, though he still played all 16 games and was third on the team in playing time at the age of 33. McCourty failed to record an interception for the first time since 2015, his three passes defensed his fewest since that year as well. As New England’s other primary veteran cornerback and top slot option, Jones didn’t miss a game and was on the field as much as any corner other than Jackson. He finished with a career-high 74 tackles to go along with a pair of interceptions. The only two other cornerbacks to see much playing time were Williams and Bryant. Williams continued to struggle to find a role for himself in the veteran unit, the 2019 second-round pick seeing limited reserve action. Meanwhile, Bryant showed a feisty playing style as an undrafted rookie just trying to get some footing in the group. Overall it was a solid season for Gilmore, Jackson and the rest of the Patriots cornerbacks, especially considering the limited help they received from the pass rush and the defensive front.
2021 projection: While the Patriots could once again have one of the best cornerback positions in football on paper heading into the new season, there are a number of questions facing key contributors. That starts with Gilmore. The veteran was given essentially a pay bump/advance a year ago and reportedly does not play on playing out his current contract slated to pay him $7 million in 2021. If Gilmore doesn’t get a new deal, it would seem likely New England would look to trade the veteran cornerback to a team willing to meet his salary demands as heads toward his 31st birthday in September. Jackson also faces less-immediate questions as a restricted free agent. While most assumed he’d be tendered at a first-round level ($4.766 million) this week, ESPN reported that New England could go with a lower second-round ($3.384 million) tender. Is Jackson the future at the cornerback position for the Patriots or building up his resume for a big contract elsewhere? Could New England use the second-round tender to entice another team to sign the interception machine and recoup the second-round pick compensation rather than lose him as a free agent a year from now? Or might the Patriots look to lock Jackson up long term? All are viable questions at this point. It’s also questionable whether New England will look to bring back McCourty for another season alongside his twin brother, Devin. Jason McCourty is certainly fading in his coverage abilities, but his veteran experience and leadership can’t be overlooked. While Jones is what he is at this point as more of a third/slot cornerback, Williams may be reaching a crossroads in his Patriots career. Seen as a bigger-bodied matchup option when drafted that hasn’t played out much on the field and a move to free safety can’t be rule out as Williams attempts to prove his worth. Bryant showed at least as much as an undrafted rookie to want to see more as he attempts to go down the path taken in the past by guys like Jackson, Malcolm Butler and Randall Gay in Foxborough. While there are plenty of questions facing the cornerback position for the Patriots, there are also plenty of would-be contributors in the group moving forward, certainly more talent and depth than at many other spots on the New England roster.
Draft/free agency need – Moderate: If Gilmore and Jackson are back in their current roles, there is not a huge, immediate need at cornerback in New England. But depending on how things play out with the top starters, things could change. Cornerback is always a position teams target at some point in the draft because there are so many options available and hitting on one can pay off huge in the long run. Some mock drafts have even had Bill Belichick targeting the position at No. 15 overall in the first round. If that’s the case, it’s likely in the wake of a Gilmore departure. Otherwise, mid-round value in the draft and possible depth signing in free agency might be a more likely scenario in the overall mosaic of an important Patriots offseason. Williams’ future and what the team thinks of the former second-round pick also play a major factor. If they believe he is a starting talent just buried behind guys, it would be a boon for the short term future at the position. But that seems like a big IF at this point. Change is a constant in the NFL and that could be true at cornerback in New England moving forward, even at a relatively impressive depth chart.
