It’s hard to truly preview the Patriots’ cornerback group for the 2021 season right now. As things currently stand the unit’s best player – and arguably the best player on the entire team – is engaged in a contract holdout.

The state of Patriots’ cornerbacks, and the team itself, changes drastically if Stephon Gilmore is removed from the equation. Over the past few seasons, the Patriots have had one of the best overall secondaries in football. And while that top end talent is still on the roster (assuming Gilmore stays), the depth has started to thin.

Assuming Gilmore returns, he and Jackson would be one of if not the best outside cornerback duo in the league. In past years, they were spelled by veteran Jason McCourty, who rotated in keeping both players fresh, and was a quality backup in the case of injuries. Last season, McCourty played 65 percent of the team’s defensive snaps. 

McCourty signed with Miami during free agency, and the Patriots never made a true corresponding move to replace him. That could leave them looking for a veteran outside corner as the season approaches. Dre Kirkpatrick, who would be an ideal fit for the role, had a free agent meeting with the team back in May but did not sign.

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  If no veteran is brought in, at least initially, the Patriots do have options in house to win the job. The favorite should be 2019 second-round pick Joejuan Williams. Through two seasons, Williams has played less than 15 percent of the team’s defensive snaps, but that’s due more to the impressive depth ahead of him (as mentioned above) than his own lack of ability.
  
  Entering 2021 training camp, Williams is still a relative unknown in terms of what he can bring to the defense. At 6-foot-3, 212 pounds the Vanderbilt product is built like a prototypical Patriots corner, and when he has been on the field he’s mostly been used to man-up tight ends, showing he can play with a physical edge at the line.
  
  During training camp and in the preseason, Williams will need to prove he can run with faster NFL wide receivers, and do so on a regular basis. If he does, he should have the inside track on the job. 
  
  Behind Williams, other options include Michael Jackson Sr., who was acquired from the Detroit Lions for a conditional seventh-round pick last August, then spent the season on the practice squad. Jackson also has the ideal build for a Patriots corner, but with only two NFL games under his belt he has less pro experience than Williams. 

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  If experience is the key, and the Patriots don’t want to add another player to the roster, free agent Jalen Mills could be the answer. Mills was an outside corner when he came to the NFL, but after struggling switched to playing mostly safety last season. There’s no reason to think he couldn’t fill outside corner snaps if needed, but he’s at his best when he’s playing safety.
   
  In all likelihood, the Patriots will have a young, less experienced outside corner playing significant snaps in 2021. What kind of workload will that player have? That’s where Gilmore’s contract situation comes back into the equation.
  
  If Gilmore returns, that cornerback will be the third man in the rotation. The coaching staff would be able to use him strategically, getting him reps without exposing him in key situations. However, if Gilmore misses time or is traded, that player becomes the second outside corner, playing opposite J.C. Jackson. In that situation, he probably plays at least 80 percent of the team’s defensive snaps. 
  
  With Gilmore on the team, the Patriots outside cornerback depth isn’t what it has been the past few years, but they’d certainly be a solid unit. Without Gilmore, there’s a real chance the Patriots have to start an untested player at a key position on defense.
  
  That’s all something to keep in mind as the Gilmore negotiations continue. In the short term, the Patriots need Gilmore more than Gilmore needs the Patriots. Creating a hole on the depth chart at cornerback after such a blockbuster offseason would be a counterintuitive move. The team seems to be aiming to win now, and that is going to be much more challenging without the 2019 Defensive Player of the Year. 

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  Where things are steady for the Patriots is at the slot corner spot. Jonathan Jones continues to improve, even as he enters his sixth year in the league. The three-year, $21 million extension the Patriots signed him to early in the 2019 season is proving to be an excellent deal for the team.
  
  Jones will be backed up by Myles Bryant, who showed promise late last season after spending the first few months on the practice squad. Bryant will likely split time between slot cornerback and safety, but the 2020 UDFA should be in the team’s overall defensive plans. 
  
  There’s also D’Angelo Ross, who has had two promising training camps cut short due to injury. If he stays healthy, he could make a push for one of the final roster spots.
  
  It’s been a few years since there have really been any questions about the Patriots’ cornerbacks. However the window on this group could be closing, with Gilmore and Jackson both in the final year of their contracts. Will the team be able to take advantage of what may be the last run without a major overhaul? If Gilmore is back, that should be the case. 

Patriots 2021 Positional Previews: Quarterback | Tight End | Offensive Line

MORE: Quarterback preview

Alex Barth is a writer and digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Looking for a podcast guest? Let him know on Twitter @RealAlexBarth or via email at abarth@985TheSportsHub.com.

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