The Patriots already had a big need on their roster, then the first week of NFL free agency happened.

Now, we’re talking about the biggest need.

It’s NOT wide receiver, where they at least have potential and upside in Tyquan Thornton to emerge as a No. 1, and DeVante Parker is confident he can still be “that guy.” It’s not offensive tackle, either, where they appear to have landed on a potential starter in free agency.

• No, the big need that has shot to the top of the chart for Bill Belichick and the Patriots is now on the defensive side of the ball. That would be outside cornerback.

  And to that end, the Patriots can still use a BIG outside corner. That is, he is both big and plays on the outside. As of Monday morning, as the Patriots and the NFL hit the second wave of free agency, they have no one on their cornerback depth chart who is BOTH big and can play outside.

  At the moment, Jonathan Jones and Jack Jones project as the Patriots’ starting outside cornerbacks. Not a bad group, by any means. Jonathan outperformed expectations for a career slot corner shifting to a full-time perimeter role, and Jack Jones emerged partway through his rookie season as a legitimate playmaker on the boundary.

• 

  GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN – OCTOBER 02: Allen Lazard #13 of the Green Bay Packers lays on his back as Jack Jones #13 of the New England Patriots returns an interception for a touchdown during the second quarter at Lambeau Field on October 02, 2022 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)

• But what the Pats could still stand to add to the cornerback room – especially after cutting Jalen Mills, who was their only starting-caliber corner over 5-foot-10 – is a big boy.

  A big boy compared to who’s already on the roster, anyway. Think 6-foot-1, over 200 pounds, and can play effective press-man coverage against big outside receivers. Mills and the Joneses were admirable in those roles in 2022, and you can throw the dynamic Marcus Jones in there, to boot. But since moving on from Stephon Gilmore, the Patriots have lacked a Gilmore type at outside corner.

  Obviously, the Pats would love to add a Gilmore equivalent, but getting that guy in 2023 is pretty friggin’ far from a guarantee, no matter who it is. Their best chance for that may have been Jalen Ramsey, who ended up being traded to the Miami Dolphins. The Patriots’ next big outside corner may not necessarily be a true No. 1, but could be better-suited for that press-man role than others on the roster.

  Fortunately, options remain on the open market.

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• One name to keep an eye on in free agency is Rock Ya-Sin, formerly of the Raiders and Colts. There’s an easy connection for Belichick to make with Las Vegas, where Josh McDaniels and Dave Ziegler can feed him all the intel he needs. But Ya-Sin does make sense for what the Pats need at his position.

  A former high-second-round pick in 2019, Ya-Sin plays a mean, physical style on the perimeter. At 6 feet and 190 pounds, Ya-Sin isn’t huge but certainly plays bigger than his size would indicate. His general style would match that of a Gilmore or J.C. Jackson, rather than the speed of Jonathan Jones or the ball-hawking of Jack Jones.

  Ya-Sin has gotten solid coverage grades from Pro Football Focus over the past two seasons, playing for an otherwise bad Raiders defense. He may not break out in New England like Gilmore or Jackson did in their time playing under Belichick, but he’d add some punch on the outside that they’ve needed in the secondary for a couple of years, now. They arguably need that more than anything.

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  Oct 10, 2022; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Rock Ya-Sin (26) barks up a pass intended for Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (9) in the first quarter at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: ​Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

• It doesn’t HAVE to be Ya-Sin if the Patriots sign an outside corner, though. In light of that, it’s also worth monitoring the status of Marcus Peters, Shqauil Griffin, and Sean Murphy-Bunting.

  There’s also still the draft, and that is where they’d have better odds of actually landing a true No. 1 outside corner. That player may just need time to develop, and wouldn’t necessarily emerge in year 1. But if the Pats do go that route, it’s worth looking up Joey Porter Jr., Deonte Banks, Cam Smith, and Kelee Ringo for your draft research needs.

  For now, we’re still in free agency, and if that’s where the Patriots want to add a bigger, more physical outside cornerback, Belichick has a few to choose from in the second wave.

• Click here for complete New England Patriots coverage at 985TheSportsHub.com.

  Matt Dolloff is a writer and podcaster for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Yell at him on Twitter @mattdolloff and follow him on Instagram @realmattdolloff. Check out all of Matt’s content here.

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