On Thursday the Felger & Mazz Big Board hit on one of the premier needs for the Patriots in this year’s NFL Draft – cornerbacks. Specifically, the Patriots could stand to add a boundary cornerback with size.
With Jalen Mills reportedly moving to safety, the Patriots’ current cornerbacks over six feet are Shaun Wade, Rodney Randle, and Quandre Mosley – three guys who have only played sparingly in the NFL. Jack Jones is their tallest high-usage cornerback at 5-foot-11.
Joey Porter Jr., Penn State
STATE COLLEGE, PA – SEPTEMBER 24: Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. #9 of the Penn State Nittany Lions breaks up a pass intended for wide receiver Finn Hogan #17 of the Central Michigan Chippewas during the second half at Beaver Stadium on September 24, 2022 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
Porter Jr. is one of a handful of players who projects to be squarely in the mix for the Patriots with the 14th overall pick. The son of the legendary Steelers linebacker with the same name, Porter has ideal size to play cornerback in the modern NFL at 6-foot-2, 193 pounds, and impressive athleticism for his frame.
The biggest knock on Porter – especially compared to the other top cornerbacks – is his technique and play recognition isn’t quite on the same level. His aggressiveness will hurt him at times, especially against skilled route runners. Still he seems to be a quick learner and showed significant improvement in 2022. Notable, his penalties against dropped from 10 in 2021 to just three. Given the Patriots’ history of successfully coaching up cornerbacks, he’d make a lot of sense as their pick.
Jaylon Jones, Texas A&M
Oct 29, 2022; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies defensive back Jaylon Jones (17) tackles Mississippi Rebels quarterback Jaxson Dart (2) in the first half at Kyle Field. Credit: Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports
Jones is another big cornerback at 6-foot-2, 200 pounds. Projected to go late on Day 2 or early on Day 3, he’s not as fluid of a mover as some of the top players at the position. He could be used as a matchup-specific player while he grows his game, but also could fit as a box safety covering tight ends. Given the Patriots seem to be trending towards a ‘positionless’ secondary, that could make him a fit – but drafting him alone probably wouldn’t solve all of their cornerback issues.
Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, TCU
FORT WORTH, TX – NOVEMBER 26: Cornerback Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson #1 of the TCU Horned Frogs reacts after sacking quarterback Hunter Dekkers #12 of the Iowa State Cyclones during the first half at Amon G. Carter Stadium on November 26, 2022 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
The nephew of legendary NFL running back LaDanian Tomlinson, Hodges-Tomlinson won the Jim Thorpe Award as the best defensive back in the nation in 2023. He’s incredibly skilled off the line of scrimmage, shadowing receivers throughout the route tree, and even at the catch point.
Last season he allowed just 34.6 percent of the 81 pass attempts against him to be completed, with 10 pass breakups and three interceptions. Opposing passers had a 42.5 rating when targeting him.
Despite all of that, even the most optimistic projections have Hodges-Tomlinson going late in the second round, while many have him slipping into Day 3. Why? Size will be a concern at the next level. Hodges-Tomlinson checked in at the Combine at 5-foot-8, 178 pounds. Given that, he projects more as a slot receiver at the next level. However, he only played 66 snaps in the slot his entire career in college, compared to 2,160 on the boundary. Given that, he’ll either need to find ways to compete on the boundary with a rare size disadvantage in the NFL, or essentially learn a new position in the pros.
The Patriots have plenty of players who are primarily slot cornerbacks in Jonathan Jones, Marcus Jones and Myles Bryant. That being said they’ve had success moving smaller slot corners to the boundary in the past – namely Jonathan Jones last year. If any of the smaller cornerbacks in this draft have the skills to play on the boundary it’s Hodges-Tomlinson, but are is skills enough for the Patriots to overlook what is truly their biggest need at the position – size.
