The Patriots have had one of the best secondaries in the NFL in recent years and this year should be no different.

Provided Stephon Gilmore returns and stays in New England, the Patriots secondary will once again be amongst the best in the NFL.

Losing Patrick Chung to retirement hurts because he is so versatile and can play in all three levels of the defense but Bill Belichick added Jalen Mills in free agency. The former Eagle has played both corner and safety and can play in the slot or outside as a match player.

Second year safety Kyle Duggar will be expected to step in and fill Chung’s role. He’s even wearing the number 23. Duggar had an impressive rookie season, flashing the big time three level potential the Patriots saw in him when they took him with their first pick (second round) in 2020.

Duggar is more athletic than Adrian Phillips but a similar player. Phillips had a solid first season in New England and his ability to play as box safety last season aided a defense that was thin at linebacker.

Devin McCourty will once again return at free safety. He is steady presence back there. He still plays at a high level in coverage and makes all the calls snd checks. McCourty will also mentor rookie Joshuah Bledsoe who is a similar player in terms of what he can do but may not have the athleticism that McCourty does.

J.C Jackson will start opposite the aforementioned Stephon Gilmore at corner. The undrafted rookie free agent has gone from making the team to playing as a sub package corner to a starter. Jackson excels in man coverage. He has elite level coverage skills and terrific ball skills. He is a free agent after the season and is poised for a big season as he looks to get paid.

Jonathan Jones will once again play the nickel corner spot. Jones is small but he makes up for it with great technique and body positioning. He has the footwork and breaking ability to consistently cover from the slot.

Belichick values hybrid type talent. That is why he drafted JoeJuan Williams with a second round pick. Williams has the size, skill set and intelligence to play a hybrid corner, safety role but he needs to be more consistent.

Michael Jackson and Myles Bryant are both corners the Patriots like and they will get a long look as special teamers and sub package players.

Justin Bethel returns as a back up corner and special teamer. He and safety Cody Davis are primarily core special team players.

The Patriots secondary is adept at playing man coverage and allowing the Patriots the flexibility to do a variety of things with their front seven.

Belichick improved the base pass rush in free agency with Matthew Judon but he still likes to pressure so he will be leaning on this secondary to hold up as the Patriots get more aggressive defensively.