One could argue that cornerback is perhaps the Patriots biggest need this off-season. With Jonathan Jones and JoeJuan Williams free agents, the Patriots currently have Marcus Jones, Jack Jones, Jalen Mills and Shaun Wade on the roster. Myles Bryant is a restricted free agent.
The Patriots need a true boundary corner. A player with length that can cover X receivers on the backside.
With just under $32 million to play with in free agency, the Patriots will have some options. Add to that a loaded cornerback class in the draft and there is no reason why the Patriots cannot address the position this off-season.
Here are ten free agents and draft prospects that fit what the Patriots do schematically.
Free agency
1. Rock Ya-Sin, (Raiders): Ya-Sin blossomed last season playing under former Patriots assistant Patrick Graham. At 6-0 190, he has good hands, can press and re-route receivers at the line and gets in phase quickly. According to PFF, Over the past two seasons, Ya-Sin’s 74.4 coverage grade when lined up out wide ranks 27th and his 70.9 coverage grade in press coverage ranks 23rd. Ya-Sin’s 18.2% forced incompletion percentage line up out wide ranked 19th, and his 0.67 yards per coverage snap ranked fifth. He was a productive player who is young enough to sign to a long term deal.
2. Sean Murphy Bunting, (Buccaneers): Murphy-Bunting has had injury and consistency issues the past two seasons but when healthy, has proven to be a ball hawk who plays with good fundamentals and can challenge receivers in man or match up zone. At 6-0 195, he has the size to play on the outside but could also be a match up piece in the slot as well in certain packages.
3. Shaquil Griffin, (Jaguars): Griffin never really became the player the Jaguars were hoping for. Part of the problem was injuries but when healthy, he can be one of the more physical corners in the league. Griffin has played mostly in Cover 1 and Cover 3 in his career but he has proven he can roll up, press and re-route in a squat Cover-2 scheme as well. I suspect Griffin will have a cool market early which means the Patriots could get in on him in the second wave of free agency.
4. Mile Hughes, (Lions): Hughes is a Jonathan Jones clone physically. He struggled early in his career and played decent for the Lions last season ranking 76th out of 118 cornerbacks. On the surface, you would think he is not good enough to sign but the physical tools are there and the Patriots defensive staff is as good as any at developing or rehabbing cornerbacks. Hughes might be a cheap fix for them as an affordable veteran to complement what they have.
5. Patrick Peterson, (Vikings): Despite being 33 years old, Peterson had a terrific season for the Vikings. He graded out as PFF’s 35th ranked cornerback. At 6-1 198, he has the size and the ball skills to still be an elite level man to man cover corner. Peterson intercepted 6.9% of passes thrown his way this season, the fifth-best mark in the NFL. Peterson’s 82.5 coverage grade ended up trailing only three other players, including New York Jets rookie Sauce Gardner. Call me crazy, but the Patriots have gone the veteran before at corner and it has worked. Getting Peterson on a one to two year deal is feasible.
Draft
1. Devon Witherspoon, Illinois: Witherspoon will more than likely be gone by the time the Patriots pick but he has the length, athleticism and the ball skills to be an elite level boundary corner. He would be a great fit on a defense that plays predominately man coverage.
2. Christian Gonzalez, Oregon: Gonzalez will more than likely be gone by the time the Patriots pick as well. He is long, lean and athletic. His quickness and ability to close on routes quickly make him an elite level talent. Gonzalez’s tape and a strong combine reaffirmed that he is one of the best players in this draft.
3. Joey Porter Jr. Penn State: Porter doesn’t have the athleticism that the other corners have in this class but he is fundamentally and has exceptional ball skills one in one. Can squat in Cover-2 and funnel receivers inside and play routes underneath. Porter has the vertical speed necessary to stay in phase and his ball skills are above average. A good player who grew up in NFL locker rooms and knows what it takes to play in the NFL.
4. Cam Smith, South Carolina: Smith has good size at 6-0 188. He excels in man to man coverage, especially over the top on deep routes. Smith plays with good instincts but needs to do a better of staying in phase at times as he takes risks in coverage. Smith would be a great fit in the Patriots scheme because of his athleticism and ball skills in one on one situations.
5. Emmanuel Forbes, Miss St. Forbes production at Mississippi State is well documented. Physically he has the length, recognition and ball skills you want in a corner but his thin frame is a concern. Despite that, the measurables and length are there for him to be a productive starter in the NFL as a boundary corner.
The Patriots need to address this position early and often in the draft. Matching up the high flying offenses of the Chiefs, Bills, Dolphins and others will be a priority in this draft. I wouldn’t be surprised if we see three new faces in the Patriots secondary this season.