The Patriots have done a solid job of addressing roster weaknesses the past two seasons.
From signing tight ends Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith, to drafting Mac Jones and then later drafting Cole Strange — there has been a concerted effort to solidify all areas of the roster. However, there are still some weaknesses that Bill Belichick has to navigate.
ESPN’s Ben Linsey ranked strengths and weaknesses for all 32 teams on Wednesday. His selection for New England makes sense, partly due to the departure of J.C. Jackson. New England did add corner depth in the offseason, but the pieces will have to make a sizable impact, in order to offset the loss of Jackson.
As Lindsley notes, the new faces combined with the departures lead the cornerback group to becoming a position of concern.
“The Patriots’ starting outside cornerbacks are Jalen Mills and either Terrance Mitchell or the recently unretired Malcolm Butler, as things stand right now,” ESPN’s Ben Linsey wrote. “That talent doesn’t line up with what New England has done on defense in recent years, including last season, when it ranked second in Cover 1 rate. It doesn’t require much imagination to see that cornerback group getting exposed in a man-heavy scheme. That could force the Patriots into more zone coverage in 2022.”
New England does have potential players who could step up in the secondary. Rookie Jack Jones has been generating buzz the last couple of weeks.
Nevertheless, it will be about making the pieces fit as the Patriots reshape the cornerback unit for 2022. In an AFC East filled with weapons, this particular positional group will have their work cut out for them.
