With the 2023 season in the books, MassLive will look at each position group on the Patriots, analyzing how the team performed in 2023 and where it might be heading in the future. Today we look at cornerbacks.
Tight ends: Jonathan Jones, Christian Gonzalez, Myles Bryant, J.C. Jackson, Marcus Jones, Shaun Wade, Isaiah Bolden, Alex Austin, Breon Borders, Azizi Hearn, Marco Wilson, Williams Hooper
Contract situation: The Patriots have depth here, but don’t be surprised if they cut a big name.
Jonathan Jones enters 2024 in the final year of his contract. He’ll have a cap hit of $12.75 million. The Patriots would owe $7.75 million if they released him.
Gonzalez is in the second year of his four-year rookie contract. He’ll have a cap hit of around $3.432 million next season. That goes up to $4.118 million in 2025 and then $4.805 million after that.
Jackson has three years left on his contract, but it would be a surprise if the Patriots kept him on this deal. He has a cap hit of $14.375 million this season. None of that is guaranteed and the Patriots will gain the full $14.375 million if they release him. Jackson is also owed $14.025 million in 2025 and $14.1 million in 2026.
Marcus Jones is in the third year of his rookie contract. He has a cap hit of $1.411 million. Wade enters the final year of his contract and will earn $1.055 million this season. Wilson is in the final year of his contract and will earn $1.055 million. Bolden, in the second year of his rookie deal, will earn $935,421 this season.
The Patriots signed Hearn to a futures contract. He’ll earn $795,000 this season.
Bryant is an unrestricted free agent. Austin is an exclusive rights free agent. Neither Borders nor Hooper signed futures contracts making them free agents.
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2023 review: The Patriots dealt with depth issues at cornerback, but this group played well all season.
Drafted 17th overall, Gonzalez looked like a bona fide No. 1 cornerback before suffering a season-ending injury in Week 4. The rookie matched up with the likes of AJ Brown, Tyreek Hill, Garrett Wilson, and CeeDee Lamb to start this NFL career.
Opposing quarterbacks had a 55.6 passer rating when targeting Gonzalez in coverage. He allowed 11 catches on 20 targets (58%) for 124 yards to go with three passes defended and an interception.
Jonathan Jones missed three of the first four games but then was lights out. Opposing quarterbacks completed just 36% of their passes with Jones in coverage. He allowed 12 catches on 36 targets for 203 yards to go with one touchdown and seven pass breakups.
Bryant was the Patriots top slot cornerback and had one of the best seasons of his career. He finished with 77 tackles, seven passes defended, and two forced fumbles. He allowed 25 catches on 43 targets (60%) for 371 yards to go with three touchdowns.
Jack Jones wasn’t here for long. He started the season on the IR and then in four games, allowed a team-high 72% of his completions to be caught. Jones allowed eight catches on 11 targets for 117 yards to go with a touchdown and pass breakup.
Jones was benched, visibly pouted on the sideline, and then was cut before landing in Las Vegas.
The Patriots also lost Marcus Jones to a shoulder injury. With him, Gonzalez, and Jack Jones not on the field, the team brought back Jackson. The veteran had some ups and downs. He was benched after missing curfew and kept at home when the team went to Germany.
Opposing quarterbacks completed 43% of their passes with Jackson in coverage. He allowed 17 catches on 40 targets for 293 yards to go with four touchdowns and six pass breakups.
Jackson was benched against Washington and left at home for the Colts game for missing a pre-game bed check. The cornerback was later placed on the non-football illness, ending his season.
The future: There’s almost no chance the Patriots keep Jackson on this roster with his current contract.
On paper, the Patriots have their two outside receivers with Gonzalez and Jonathan Jones. They do lack some depth behind those two. The team could rework Jackson’s deal – if the new staff wants him back. They need to find more depth behind Jones, who turns 31 next season.
The Patriots have some options in Wilson, Austin, Wade, and Bolden. It wouldn’t be a surprise if they added another veteran to this group or drafted someone with higher potential.
The Patriots must figure out what to do with their slot cornerback position. That’s been where Bryant’s played, but he’s about to be an unrestricted free agent. Theoretically, that could be Marcus Jones’ spot, but Bryant surpassed him on the depth chart in the past two seasons.
Bryant was a versatile chest piece and there’s a strong argument the Patriots should bring him back. If they don’t, the team will need to add another slot cornerback to the roster.
Part 1: Patriots quarterback review
Part 2: Patriots receiver review
Part 3: Patriots running back review
Part 4: Patriots tight end review
Part 5: Patriots offensive line review
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