This Part 5 of the series looking at the Patriots 90 man roster heading into Training Camp.
Cornerback
Christian Gonzalez: He’s played just 20 games but was selected as an All-Pro CB last season. He had one of the best ratings in man coverage last season against what can be considered the gauntlet of opposing star receivers. The 2023 1st round selection (#17) was off to a great start in his rookie season and was named the Defensive Rookie of the Month for September. In his 4th game he suffered a torn Labrum in his shoulder and missed the remainder of the season. He received an overall grade of 76.0 from Pro Football Focus, which ranked 21st amongst 222 qualifying cornerbacks in 2024.
This grade is considered low because they gave him a poor rating in run stop ability. His run defense grade was 59.2 but his pass coverage grade was 78.2 (22nd). Amazingly they left him off the list of top 25 players under 25. He made All-Pro! I don’t believe he was credited for playing the highest amount of man coverage with a defensive line that was dead last in the league in sacks and pressure. Gonzalez was just selected to the NFL.com top 100 players. NFL.com Bobby Kownack said (Gonzalez) is “a bright light pointing toward future prosperity.
Gonzalez displayed sticky coverage skills while manning up against opposing WR1s. His ability to hold his own against elite talent in isolation didn’t carry over to New England’s overall output — the defense ranked 22nd in both scoring and yards — but it could eventually become a cheat code of sorts as the unit evolves around him”.
Carlton Davis: Davis was acquired via Free Agency. The Patriots overpaid for his services. He has been one of the best cover corners in football over the last 7 years. In Tampa Bay, he was a key member of the Super Bowl Champion Bucs in 2020. Davis has a history of injuries. In the last 4 seasons, Davis has missed 7, 4.5, and 4 games each season. He has never been healthy enough to play a complete season in his 7 years in the league.
The 6’1”, 206-pound DB was a 2nd round pick (#63) by Tampa Bay in 2018. Last season he had a 74.5 (#29) Defensive Rating by PFF with a 77.7 Run Defense Grade and a 72.1 Coverage grade. If he can stay healthy, the Patriots will have the best pair of coverage corners since HOF’er Mike Haynes and Raymond Clayborn.
Marcus Jones: He’s a great Punt Returner (1st Team All-Pro in 2022) and can contribute on the Offensive side as well. As a slot corner, he can stay with the shiftier slot receivers, but his lack of size makes him vulnerable to bigger slot players. His PFF grade was 70.2 (#46) with an outstanding Run Defense grade of 88.2(#7) and a 67.1(#65) Pass Coverage grade.
The gritty 5’8” 188-pound Jones was 3rd in the league in Punt Return average (14.8 YPR) despite missing 3 games. In camp, the 26-year-old will have competition at both positions. Alex Austin worked a lot at the slot corner in OTAs and Mini Camp this Spring and Efton Chism, the heralded UDFA is also an accomplished returner. Jones was selected by the Patriots in the 3rd round (#85) of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Alex Austin: He was a 7th Round (#252) in the 2023 Draft by Buffalo. He was cut at the cutdown day and then signed with the Houston Texans’ Practice Squad. Houston waived him in November, and the Patriots signed him to their 5-man roster. In 2023, he played 3 games for Houston and 5 for the Patriots, including 1 start. In 2024, he played 9 games with 3 starts, mostly in a special-teams role.
He finished the season with 9 tackles before being placed on IR. Austin has shown he can be an effective DB and is getting a look at the Slot Corner in Spring workouts. He is a key special-teams player, and given Carlton Davis’s injury history, he could be a very valuable backup. The 6’1” ,191-pound DB from Oregon State ran a 4.55 at his Pro Day.
Isaiah Bolden: The big 6’2”, 208-pound DB played college ball at Florida State and Jackson State. The Patriots selected him in the 7th round (#245) of the 2023 draft (7 picks ahead of Alex Austin). His scorching 4.33 40-yard dash at Jackson State’s Pro Day alerted scouts to his ability. He was the only player drafted from an HBCU college in 2023. In his rookie year he was knocked unconscious in a Pre-Season game by teammate Calvin Munson. The injury caused Bolden to be placed on IR, and he lost his entire rookie year.
In 2024, he was waived at cutdown day and then re-signed to the Practice Squad. On September 28th he was signed to the 53-man roster for the remainder of the season. He played in 14 games and had 10 tackles for the year. Although he didn’t start, he played significant minutes in the Los Angelas Chargers and Buffalo Bills games 17 and 18 respectively. Although he had 113 snaps on Special Teams, he only had one tackle. He is in a fight for the last DB slot on the roster.
Marcellas Dial: Dial was a 6th round (#186) by the Patriots in the 2024 Draft. The 6’ 190-pound South Carolina DB ran a 4.46 40-yard dash at the Combine. He was a stalwart on all 4 Special Teams with 334 snaps played (83.3%). He contributed 12 tackles overall, with 5 coming in his only start in the season finale against the Bills. Dial and Bolden will be fighting for that last spot on the roster.
Kobee Minor: Mr Irrelevant is the title and honor of being the final selection in the 2025 draft (#257) by the Patriots. Minor played for three different Colleges, Texas Tech, Indiana and Memphis State. He transferred from Texas Tech because he wanted playing time. He played in parts of 23 games for Texas Tech with no starts.
At Indiana, he started 9 of 11 games with 23 tackles. In 2024 he took the NIL money and entered the transfer portal again, this time signing with Memphis. He started all 11 games and had 38 tackles. The 5’11” 182-pound DB ran a 4.56 40 at his Pro Day. Minor is a longshot to make the 53-man roster. I didn’t see anything written that he was making any kind of impression during OTAs and Mini-Camp. It’s more likely he will be cut and signed to the Practice Squad.
Miles Battle: Battle is a 6’3” 197-pound DB that played for Utah and Ole Miss. He was a 2024 UDFA signed by KC. At the final cutdown, Battle was waived. The Patriots didn’t sign him to their Practice Squad until October. For the final game of the season against Buffalo, Battle was elevated from the Practice squad and played in the game. He had 2 tackles and 3 Pass Break Ups in that game. He will be battling for a roster spot. The question is how many DBs will the team keep? Another year on the Practice Squad is likely.
DJ James: The 6’ 175 DB played for Oregon and Auburn. He was drafted by Kansas City in the 6th round of last season’s draft (#192). The Patriots signed James to their Practice Squad after he was cut by KC at the cutdown day. He spent the entire season on the Practice Squad and signed a Futures contract in January for 2025. In 2022, his 1st season in the SEC, he was selected 2nd team All-Conference CB. At the Combine he ran a 4.42 40-yard dash. He has talent but will it be enough? I don’t expect he will make the team and will probably look elsewhere for another opportunity.
Brandon Crossley: He was a UDFA signed this year. The 5’11” 186-pound DB played one season for Colorado State and then transferred to SMU for 5 seasons. He is a 24-year-old rookie. In 2024, he played 14 games with 13 starts and totaled 35 tackles, 7 passes defensed and 1 interception and earned honorable mention All-ACC honors. His best bet is making a good enough impression to secure a Practice Squad spot.
Safeties
Kyle Dugger: I highlighted Dugger under the Linebacker position. I truly believe that is his best position. He doesn’t have the instincts to play Safety, especially the Free Safety position. I also mentioned that Dugger played through a severe ankle sprain that required surgery in the off-season. He did not participate in any OTAs or Mini Camp because of the injury. His effectiveness will be monitored throughout Training Camp. I wouldn’t be surprised if Dugger starts the Camp on PUP.
Jabril Peppers: He had a season that he most likely would like to forget. He was placed on the Commissioners’ exempt list due to a Domestic Violence and Drug charge. After missing eight games, he was reinstated after the Domestic Violence charges were dropped. However, Peppers pleaded guilty to Cocaine possession. This is not his 1st incident involving drugs; he failed a drug test at the Combine.
He was selected in the 1st round (#25) of the 2017 draft by the Cleveland Browns. The Patriots signed him to a show-me contract in 2022 and then re-signed him to a two-year extension. The Patriots followed that up with a three-year $24M contract in 2024. Peppers is exactly the kind of player that Mike Vrabel wants in his Defense. Known as a big hitter, Peppers’ grade from PFF was 82.3, good for 7th amongst all Safeties.
His Run Defense grade was 74.7 (35th) and Pass Coverage grade of 81.7 (8th). Missing him for 8 games combined with Dugger playing hurt spelled doom for the Patriots. I expect a big year from Peppers in 2025.
Dell Pettus: Pettus was a huge surprise for the Patriots in 2025. The Undrafted Free Agent received a lot of playing time with the Peppers’ suspension and a hobbled Dugger. The 5’11”, 200-pound Strong Safety played 5 years at Troy and started 61 of 63 games he played in.
His 4.51 40 and 7.00 3-cone drill are good for a Strong Safety. His PFF grade for Defense was 73.9 (27th) Run Defense 69.4 (62) and 72.1 (24th), all outstanding for a UDFA rookie. He had 27 tackles on 394 snaps played. Moving Dugger and Marte to Linebackers allows Pettus to continue to grow as the backup Strong Safety. I have Pettus making the 53-man roster.
Jaylinn Hawkins: Entering his 6th season in the league, Hawkins, a 2020 4th Round (134) selection by Atlanta, is in competition for a backup Free Safety role. Last season, he had 7 starts in the 17 games he played in. He had 48 Tackles but no Interceptions. This spring, he had good workouts and was among the better players in OTAs and Mini Camp.
Marcus Epps: Epps was signed to a one-year contract in Free Agency. I believe it will come down to Epps or Hawkins for the backup Free Safety position. Epps is coming off an ACL injury while with Las Vegas last year. He started 3 games before the ACL injury sidelined him for the season. In those games, he had a combined 19 tackles. In 2022, he had 94 tackles for Philadelphia. He will be one to watch in Training Camp. Hawkins was a 2019 6th Round (191) selection by Atlanta. Entering the season, he will be 29 years old.
Craig Woodson: When the Patriots selected Woodson in the 4th Round (106) all the fans said who is this guy. He has been the biggest surprise of the Spring practices. All the reporters are in agreement that he has been a huge surprise. He is calm and communicates very well. They also said that he has always been in the right position and looks comfortable out there. Greg Bedard claims that Woodson will likely be the starter at Free Safety. The 6’ 200-pound Safety has 4.45 speed and has played all over the field for California.
He missed the 2021 season but started in the last three of his 5 college seasons all at California. In 2024 he earned All ACC 1st team honors. I had said the Patriots needed to address the Free Safety position in the draft and that it was a huge need for them. I never want to see Kyle Dugger at the Free Safety position again. I am looking forward to seeing Woodson play.
Jordan Polk: In 2024, the UDFA played in 14 games with 13 starts for Texas State, and totaled 35 tackles, 7 passes defensed and 1 interception. He stands 5’10” 192-pounds and ran a 4.52 40 at his Pro Day. The ultra confident Polk said that all he needs is a chance and his play on the field will do the talking. I would expect that Polk will likely be a Practice Squad player.
John Minkins: The 6’1” 207-pounds 4.54 40, 38” Vertical Leap, split his college career between Louisville and Cincinnati. Minkins is an in-the-box safety who brings a naturally versatile skillset to New England, having played several roles in the secondary and on special teams. He is competing for a chance to make the Practice Squad.
PFF Ranks the Patriots Secondary as #5 in the League
In a surprise ranking the Patriots Secondary was ranked in the top 5. This is what PFF had to say “Despite the Patriots’ struggles in the post-Bill Belichick and Tom Brady era, their defense remains a strength. Budding star Christian Gonzalez leads the group after missing most of his rookie season in 2023. His 78.2 coverage grade last season was outstanding for a de facto rookie year, and the Patriots added Carlton Davis in the offseason to bolster the cornerback room.
Jabrill Peppers has quietly put together a quality career, earning overall grades above 82.3 in each of the past two seasons. Dell Pettus also looks like an undrafted gem, excelling in PFF’s advanced coverage metrics and posting a 73.9 overall grade as a rookie.” I would also add that the Patriots should have an improved pass rush. Last season they were dead last in the league, which allowed opposing QBs all the time they needed to complete passes.
I also anticipate the Patriots will play more zone as opposed to the heavy man defense they played last year. We should also see more interceptions from the secondary with an improved pass rush.
About Mark Morse
Merrimack Valley native and lifelong fan of the New England Patriots. My earliest memories of the Patriots were attending as a child with my dad, the off-season practice at Phillips Academy. I was at the Patriots game at Harvard Stadium in 1970 where Bob “Harpo” Gladieux was called out of the stands by the stadium announcer over the PA to play in the game. Analyzing the draft since ESPN first started to televise it in 1980 and former writer for the Lowell Sun Newspaper.
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