Heading into the 2024 NFL Draft, the heavy majority of the New England Patriots’ roster needs are on offense. If there is one key need on defense though, it’s at the cornerback position.
The Patriots should be O.K. at the top of the cornerbacks depth chart. 2023 first-round pick Christian Gonzalez is returning after a shoulder injury cut short what began as a promising rookie year, and he should be penciled into that role.
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After that though, there are questions. Jonathan Jones will play a significant role, but will that be on the boundary where he’s spent the last two years, or will the team move him back into the slot following the departure of Myles Bryant? It’s also worth considering he’s entering a contract year at 31 years old.
If Jones is back on the inside playing over Marcus Jones, the Patriots will need a new second boundary cornerback. If he’s on the boundary, the team still needs another rotational boundary corner as they typically like to move three players through those two spots, but would also need a backup slot cornerback as well.
On the boundary right now, it projects to be Alex Austin, Isaiah Bolden, Marco Wilson, and Shaun Wade competing for that second or third boundary spot. In the slot, it would likely be Wade and Azizi Hearn competing for the depth role.
Who might the Patriots look to add to that cornerbacks room in the 2024 NFL Draft? Let’s take a look at the top players and other names to know in this year’s cornerback class.
Round 1 cornerbacks
AUBURN, ALABAMA – NOVEMBER 25: Rivaldo Fairweather #13 of the Auburn Tigers fails to pull in this reception as he is hit by Jihaad Campbell #30 and Terrion Arnold #3 of the Alabama Crimson Tide during the fourth quarter at Jordan-Hare Stadium on November 25, 2023 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
While not as expansive as last year’s class, the top of this year’s class certainly has some talent. Still, after using a first-round pick on a corner last year, it doesn’t make a ton of sense for them to do so again.
However, that doesn’t mean this group isn’t totally irrelevant to the Patriots. Most of this year’s top cornerbacks are projected late-first, early-second-round picks. New England should be hoping for more of the former. The more cornerbacks that sneak into the back end of the first round, the more top tackles and receivers will be pushed down to their second pick, 34th overall.
Who are the cornerbacks to watch here? Terrion Arnold from Alabama and Quinyon Mitchell from Toledo are pretty much first-round locks, while Iowa’s Cooper DeJean should be too. The players the Patriots will hope to see join that group as first-round picks are Kool-Aid McKinstry from Alabama, Nate Wiggins from Clemson, and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. from Missouri.
The most interesting player in this group is DeJean. Mostly a cornerback in college, many draft experts project him as a hybrid safety/cornerback/utility defensive back at the next level. His value will be tied to where individual teams see him playing most.
Round 2 cornerbacks
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN – NOVEMBER 25: TreVeyon Henderson #32 of the Ohio State Buckeyes takes a hit from Mike Sainristil #0 of the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium on November 25, 2023 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Again, 34 is probably a bit rich for the Patriots at cornerback. However, if they do pick a defensive back this high (either at 34 or after a slight trade down), Mike Sainristil would certainly be a great fit for them individually, even if the pick didn’t make as much sense in building out the rest of the roster.
Simply put, Sainristil is a football player. The 2018 Massachusetts Gatorade Player of the Year at Everett High School, Sainristil was recruited to Michigan as a two-way player and initially played wide receiver. After one season playing mostly on the outside followed by another season as a slot receiver, he began the move to the defensive side of the ball. In 2022 he was Michigan’s starting slot corner, and was one of the best players in the country at the position. Last year he still played mostly in the slot but also saw more reps on the boundary and as a box safety.
Sainristil’s versatility should carry over to the NFL. For a secondary that prides itself on being positionless, he’d be an ideal fit – that is, assuming the Patriots want to take a defensive back in the second round.
As for the true cornerbacks expected to go in the second round, T.J. Tampa from Iowa State is the top outside option, while Kamari Lassiter from Georgia is more of a slot cornerback/nickel back prospect. Max Melton from Rutgers projects as a player who can play both spots, but at 5-foot-11, 187 pounds he played mostly on the outside at Rutgers. Melton was a three-year starter who also played a significant special teams role – he blocked four kicks in his career including three in the 2022 season.
Round 3 boundary cornerbacks
SOUTH BEND, INDIANA – OCTOBER 15: Cam Hart #5 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish looks on against the Stanford Cardinal during the first half at Notre Dame Stadium on October 15, 2022 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
The late-second to third round is where most of the top 100 cornerbacks are expected to go this year. If the Patriots feel really good about their first two picks (or more, if they trade down), this is now getting into range for them to realistically take a corner.
All things considered, the best fit for the Patriots in this range should be Cam Hart from Notre Dame. He’s currently projected to go later in the third round, but he’s the kind of player the league tends to be higher on than draft media.
One of the most exciting things about Hart’s game – other than his size at 6-foot-3, 202 pounds – is how he plays his best against the best competition. That includes holding Marvin Harrison Jr. to 32 yards on three catches in his game against Notre Dame this season. Hart also was one of the most dominant cornerbacks on the field at the Senior Bowl. He was also a team captain in 2023 – his third year as a starter.
If the Patriots want to move Jonathan Jones back to the slot, or simply prepare for life without him, Hart would make a lot of sense opposite Christian Gonzalez. Gonzalez could take teams’ faster, shiftier wide receivers while Hart could cover the bigger, more physical pass catchers.
Hart wouldn’t be the only player who could fill that role. Khyree Jackson from Oregon (not one of Gonzalez’s former teammates though – he transferred from Alabama last year) is another physically-imposing corner at 6-foot-4, 194 pounds. However, he’s not nearly as polished as Hart, with just 14 career starts under his belt heading into his age 25 season.
Renardo Green is the final boundary option in this range. He’s not as big as Hart or Jackson at 6-foot, 186 pounds but plays bigger than his size as a press man corner. Like Hart, Green has some impressive tape against top competition – he allowed just three catches for 28 yards on six targets against LSU’s juggernaut offense in the 2023 season opener.
Round 3 ‘tweener’ cornerbacks
Oct 30, 2021; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores running back Patrick Smith (42) is tackled by Missouri Tigers defensive back Kris Abrams-Draine (14) during the second half at Vanderbilt Stadium. Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
There are no true slot cornerbacks expected to go in this range, but there are players who have experience playing both spots, or played on the outside but will likely move inside at the next level.
Kris Abrams-Draine, who the Patriots met with at the Missouri pro day, stands out from this group. A converted wide receiver, Abrams-Draine still sees the field through the eyes of an offensive player, which has helped him as he builds up his coverage technique at his new position, although he showed significant growth last year in his third year as a full-time defensive player. Like most converted wide receivers, he’s a plus player at the catch point.
At 5-foot-11, 179 pounds he initially played slot cornerback for Missouri but moved to a more outside-heavy role the past two years. He’ll likely be asked to do some of both in the NFL. Other cornerbacks expected to make the move from the boundary to the slot are D.J. James from Auburn and Renardo Green from Florida State.
Early Day 3 cornerbacks
Sep 23, 2023; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; TCU Horned Frogs cornerback Josh Newton (2) intercepts a pass intended for SMU Mustangs wide receiver Jordan Kerley (1) during the second half at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
There should still be plenty of cornerback talent on the board for the Patriots early on Day 3. That group starts with Josh Newton from TCU.
At this time last year, Newton was a projected first-round pick for this upcoming draft. However, he failed to have the breakout season some expected in 2023, which has caused him to fall down draft boards.
Newton is also a bit of a ‘tweener’ at cornerback making him relatively scheme-specific, which also doesn’t help his draft standing. He played on the boundary almost exclusively in college, but at 5-foot-11, 190 pounds, NFL teams may want him to move inside to slot corner. In the Patriots’ defense, Newton’s instincts, press ability and physicality both at the catch point and in the run game will play well from either spot.
As a pure boundary cornerback Caelen Carson is a Patriots fit from a physical standpoint as a press-man cornerback. His football instincts are still catching up to his physical ability, but he’s a strong project for a rotational boundary cornerback role. Nehemiah Pritchett is another boundary cornerback the Patriots could look at here, but if they’re still going to value tackling at the position that may knock him down there board.
Jarvis Brownlee Jr. from Louisville will probably be viewed as a slot cornerback by most teams, but the Patriots have had no problem putting 5-foot-10 corners on the perimeter in recent years and Brownlee certainly has the skillset for it. He’s very physical at the line of scrimmage, which can help him neutralize the kind of smaller, quicker receivers becoming more common in the NFL. His downfield play will be the biggest question about his game, but he had a strong showing in that regard at the Senior Bowl.
Mid-Day 3 cornerbacks
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – NOVEMBER 04: Jaylin Simpson #36 of the Auburn Tigers recovers a fumble during the first half of the game against the Vanderbilt Commodores at FirstBank Stadium on November 04, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images)
Let’s add another player to the list of those who could be cornerbacks or safeties, but we’re including here. Jaylin Simpson from Auburn was a rotational and then starting boundary cornerback from 2020 through 2022. Last year, they moved him to move of a safety role and he posted the third-highest PFF coverage grade by any SEC safety of 87.4.
In addition to a rotational boundary cornerback, the Patriots could use a developmental free safety to allow them to play Kyle Dugger and Jabrill Peppers more in the box, where they’re more impactful. Simpson could do a little bit of both roles, making him a potential chess piece for Jerod Mayo and DeMarcus Covington.
Another Senior Bowl standout, Washington State’s Chau Wade-Smith showed an ability to stick with receivers across a number of different routes throughout the season. He’s undersized (5-foot-10, 184 pounds) and doesn’t have the elite athleticism players sometimes need to bridge that gap, but the skillset is there. His NFL success will come down to how whatever team that drafts him uses him, so if the Patriots see him as a player they can create a plan for, he could turn into a steal.
One of the most productive boundary cornerbacks in this class is Dwight McGlothern from Arkansas. In the past three seasons as a starter (2021 at LSU, 2022 and 2023 for the Razorbacks) he’s recorded 21 pass breakups and eight interceptions in 32 games. More of an off-zone corner than a man corner, he’s not as much of a fit for the Patriots’ defensive system but his production may be enough to get their attention.
Late Day 3 cornerbacks
Nov 23, 2023; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi Rebels defensive back Deantre Prince (7) breaks up a pass during the first half against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
At this point, players may be developmental corners but would also likely need to be able to contribute on special teams in order to have a shot at making the roster. Along those lines, the better tackling cornerbacks make more sense to focus on. That is players like Deantre Prince from Ole Miss, who was a three-year starter who excelled in run support and plays physical at the catch point.
Some of the other better tackling cornerbacks projected in this range includes Beanie Bishop Jr. from West Virginia, who also ran the fastest 40 at the Big 12 pro day at 4.39 seconds. Bishop played mostly on the boundary last year at 5-foot-10, 184 pounds, and led the Big 12 and was second in the nation last year with 14 pass breakups.
The Patriots could go in another direction and look at Texas’ Ryan Watts here. Watts played cornerback for the Longhorns, but looks to be more of an NFL safety. At 6-foot-3, 208 pounds with solid play strength, he’s another solid special teams candidate.
One projected fringe draft pick/UDFA cornerback might have the best story of any player in this draft, and that’s Quan’tez Stiggers. He initially committed to play for Division-II Lane College heading into the 2020 season, but after his father died following a car accident, he dropped out to help his family before the season began.
Stiggers worked for DoorDash, InstaCart, and was washing trucks before his mom signed him up for a Fan Controlled Football League tryout in 2022. He made the league and from there caught the attention of a coach from the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL. Last year he was invited to training camp in Toronto and not only made the team, but was named a CFL All-Star and the league’s Most Outstanding Rookie. Now, at 22, he’s entering the NFL Draft.
Having played in a pro league last year, Stiggers looks to be physically ready for NFL football at 5-foot-11, 204 pounds. He showed a natural knack for tracking the ball in the air and getting himself to the point of attack when the play was away from him, but his actual technique is as raw as expected for a player who has only played one season of high-level football. He’d be an interesting add for a team willing to be patient in developing a corner.
UDFAs
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 25: Jahmal Banks #80 of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons attempts to catch a pass as Isaiah Johnson #3 of the Syracuse Orange defends him during the fourth quarter at JMA Wireless Dome on November 25, 2023 in Syracuse, New York. Johnson was called for pass interference on the play. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)
Again, we’re looking at cornerbacks who are stronger tacklers to give themselves an edge on special teams. Cornerbacks projected to go undrafted fitting that description include A.J. Woods from Pitt, Isaiah Johnson from Syracuse, or Chigozie Anusiem from Colorado State.
