The most interesting position group for the Patriots as we head into the final preseason week with cutdowns looming this weekend is cornerback. Between the new guys that have emerged and those who are returning from injury, there’s a logjam of intriguing players with a variety of skillsets, contracts and draft statuses. We’ve seen this happen before, with it often ending up with undrafted players making the roster and others unfortunately making it on different rosters around the league.
The position is oft-maligned but the top-two starters have been entrenched from the start. Stephon Gilmore was arguably the best defensive player in training camp. You might get distracted by the catches he gave up in a preseason game against Carolina, but make no mistake, Gilmore is poised for a shutdown season, the likes of which we haven’t seen in a long time.
Next to him will be Eric Rowe, who hasn’t let go of the starting spot since last Super Bowl. Rowe is an outside guy with good size, so he’s useful for matchups as well. While the Pats will lean heavily on their three-safety, two-corner package, all five positions feature entrenched veterans. After that is where things get murky.
Let’s run down the candidates.
Jason McCourty — Most of us penciled him in as a starter next to Gilmore, or at least a third option to rotate with Rowe but that hasn’t really materialized. He started slow, perhaps due to still getting healthy, and has never risen to a consistent role with the defense. Now he was playing safety against Carolina, leading us to wonder if that was a desperate move to see if he had any additional value. J-Mac appears very much on the bubble because there are younger players behind him with more long-term potential and cheaper contracts.
Duke Dawson — Dawson was running with the top group as a slot corner early in camp, but an injury has since knocked him to the sidelines. The Patriots would be unlikely to cut a second-rounder so he’s got a roster spot, but could they just IR him if it looks like an injury that could linger? If he had seized the slot job and stayed healthy the Patriots’ decisions would be a lot more easy.
Cyrus Jones — A second-round pick from 2016, Jones tore his ACL last year but is the most versatile of all the corners, being able to return both kicks and punts. Those are positions the Pats have turned over this year so this versatility gives Jones a leg up on a roster spot. I really like how he jumped back into things last Friday and right now I think he’s going to be a factor on the team this year. They really need him to be, as he checks a number of needs.
Jonathan Jones — Still in recovery from an injury suffered last postseason, Jones is an excellent special teamer and saw plenty of time in the slot last year. In many ways, he’s similar to Cyrus Jones, and unquestionably was on track to beat Cyrus out last season. But his recovery complicates things. He hasn’t gotten into a game yet. Is his past performance enough to hold a spot for him, especially with Dawson waiting in the wings and assured a spot?
Keion Crossen — Yes, he got picked on in Week 2 of the preseason but bounced back and played well against the Panthers. He’s long and athletic, a physical specimen who fits the part. Crossen is one of those guys who might not make it to the practice squad.
JC Jackson — There’s been a buzz about Jackson since the first OTAs, when he got time with the top team. Aggressive and long-armed, he has the look of a Patriots corner and is my favorite of all the undrafted rookies. He also played well against Carolina. Odds are high he is the undrafted guy to make the team this year, and if it’s not him, it’s Crossen.
That’s the group I see as competing for roster spots, but Ryan Lewis, Jomal Wiltz and AJ Moore have all gotten looks and made plays as well. There are no easy decisions.
The ironic part is that with the three-safety sets, the third and fourth cornerbacks don’t have the same kind of value to the defense that they used to. A fifth corner would likely never even see the field on defense.
Having this kind of depth is a good problem to have, but the bad problem is that there are only so many roster spots and the Pats must choose wisely. Even if he makes the team, McCourty is a free agent next year, as is Rowe. Keeping the players you know you’d have long term over those who might even make you slightly better this season, might be the priority.