Patriots Position Breakdown: Cornerback Group Has Makings To Be Elite

Welcome to Patriots Position Breakdown, a 10-part series on NESN.com where we dive deep into each of New England’s position groups prior to the start of training camp.

It’s time to be positive about the Patriots!

We haven’t had many opportunities to do so throughout this series, but if you’ve noticed anything through our explorations into the running backs, linebackers, offensive line, tight ends and defensive line, it’s since things look much better on the defensive side of the ball.

New England is expected to have an above-average defense, but we’ve come to realize it isn’t too far off becoming one of the league’s most dominant units. If the Patriots can get Christian Gonzalez to play to the level many think he can, this unit could very well become one of the best in the NFL — with plenty of help from those in front of them.

Just take a look at the individual pieces.

Roster Overview

– Christian Gonzalez
– Jonathan Jones
– Marcus Jones
– Alex Austin
– Isaiah Bolden
– Marco Wilson
– Shaun Wade
– Marcellas Dial Jr.
– Kaleb Ford-Dement
– Azizi Hearn
– Mikey Victor

Gonzalez will be relied upon to lead this group from an on-the-field standpoint, but the presence of guys like Jonathan Jones and Marcus Jones gives New England a reliable and versatile starting trio.

The Patriots actually have a ton of versatility in this group, which is what makes it so special. Jonathan Jones will play inside and outside the numbers, while Bolden has already been touted as someone Jerod Mayo believes can also do both. Austin exceeded all expectations in his rookie season and comes into his sophomore campaign with a legitimate shot at stealing a starting job.

Wilson and Wade are interesting case studies, as they feel like very similar players on paper having both played big-time college football but disappointing considerably by the time they reached the NFL. Wilson is someone who has all the tools New England looks for, though, so he might have an upper hand in the battle for a roster spot.

Dial is built to play the “Myles Bryant role” of recent seasons, as he can cover in the slot and outside while being a natural fit to play some safety. Ford-Dement, Hearn and Victor? They’re on the outside looking in.

Biggest Question(s)

– Is Marcus Jones capable of holding onto his job?
Jones’ sophomore campaign was disappointing, as injuries put a damper on any chance he had of building off his standout rookie campaign. It’s an unfortunate reality of the NFL, but his year away from the field has us wondering if he’s ready for a full-time role defensively.

Austin’s breakout last season might be enough for the Patriots to be comfortable rolling with him, Gonzalez and Jonathan Jones as the primary trio in base packages. How does Marcus Jones find the field after that? He’s the primary return man, but beyond that, he doesn’t have much of a role without being the slot guy.

If he’s playing in sub packages, you’re looking at 30% of defensive snaps tops.

— Do they need a veteran?
Jonathan Jones has our respect, but this group feels awfully young outside of him. It might be worth trying to add a veteran to balance out a unit that notoriously needs level-headedness.

Stephon Gilmore is the sexy option, but plenty of guys will be on the open market toward the start of the season. James Bradberry feels like a cut candidate in Philadelphia, while Adoree’ Jackson and Patrick Peterson currently sit on the open market following solid seasons.

Grade

– B+

Just how good can Gonzalez be? If he’s anything close to what he looked like he could become as a rookie, the Patriots will be just fine. If he takes a step back, they still look to have an above-average unit that will only be aided by the safety group.