A look at some cornerback prospects the Patriots might have their eyes on in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Entering the 2023 season, cornerback was seen as possibly the deepest and most talented position on the New England Patriots’ roster. However, a mix of injury, inconsistency and inexperienced put constant pressure on the group and left it looking drastically different by Week 18 than it had when the season first began four months earlier.
Some of the questions surrounding the group have answered themselves organically through players returning from injury, others still remain. Before looking at how New England might try to address them in the draft, let’s first take a look at the depth chart as it currently presents itself:
- Christian Gonzalez (0) | Opening day age: 22 | Contract: Signed through 2026
- Jonathan Jones (31) | Opening day age: 30 | Contract: Signed through 2024
- Marcus Jones (25) | Opening day age: 25 | Contract: Signed through 2025
- Alex Austin (28) | Opening day age: 23 | Contract: Signed through 2024
- Shaun Wade (26) | Opening day age: 25 | Contract: Signed through 2024
- Marco Wilson (19) | Opening day age: 25 | Contract: Signed through 2024
- Isaiah Bolden (29) | Opening day age: 24 | Contract: Signed through 2026
- Azizi Hearn (42) | Opening day age: 25 | Contract: Signed through 2024
The Patriots’ first-round pick from a year ago, Christian Gonzalez, sits atop the depth chart as the team’s No. 1 cornerback. Despite playing only four games before a season-ending shoulder injury, he showed the traits that made him one of the top prospects at the position in 2023 and should have the team feel good about his development.
Alongside Gonzalez, Jonathan and Marcus Jones project as the current starters with the former on the outside and the latter in the slot. While both also possess the versatility to move elsewhere in the secondary, neither is an outside cornerback by trade. There is some potential to upgrade the starting position opposite Gonzalez, which in turn would free up the Joneses to play on the inside or even at safety.
The depth behind the current top three also is a question mark. There have been flashes, but none of Alex Austin, Shaun Wade, Marco Wilson, Isaiah Bolden and Azizi Hearn are close to being considered as roster locks. Some of them are likely to end up on the team regardless, but adding rookie competition would make sense as well.
With all that said, let’s take a look at some cornerback prospects in this year’s class that might help New England improve both the starting level and the depth at the position.
Perimeter cornerback
Max Melton (Rutgers): A speedster who spent the last four years under short-time Patriots defensive coordinator Greg Schiano, Melton brings good ball recognition and production as well as a feisty attitude to the equation. He also blocked four punts during his college career. | Expected round: 3
Cam Hart (Notre Dame): A big-bodied perimeter cornerback, Hart offers plenty of man coverage experience and fluid movement skills. While there are questions about his long speed and injury history, he has the makings of a future starting cornerback. | Expected round: 3-4 | Draft profile
Khyree Jackson (Oregon): Could the Patriots go with an outside cornerback from Oregon in back-to-back years? While Jackson is not the blue-chip prospect Christian Gonzalez was in 2023, he offers a promising skillset in his own right. His size and physicality makes him well-suited to play in a press-man defense like New England’s. | Expected round: 3-4 | Draft profile
Renardo Green (Florida State): Green offers adequate size and speed, but does not stand out in any particular category. That said, he is an efficient mover who has the reactionary skills and physicality to succeed as a developmental perimeter cornerback. | Expected round: 4
Nehemiah Pritchett (Auburn): Tremendous speed and good length are Pritchett’s calling card, but he also offers scheme flexibility and some good ball skills. There are questions about his frame and tackling, but he does possess NFL level traits. | Expected round: 4-5
Decamerion Richardson (Mississippi State): The 6-foot-2, 188-pound cornerback may not have registered a single interception in 45 college games, but make no mistake: he does have talent, and combines good size with natural athleticism. | Expected round: 5-6
Qwan’tez Stiggers (Toronto Argonauts): Stiggers’ journey to the NFL is a unique one. He received little attention out of high school, quit football altogether following the death of his father, started playing again in 2022 in a semi-professional league, and found his way to the CFL in 2023. Now, the 6-foot-0, 204-pounder projects as a high-upside developmental prospect. | Expected round: 7-UDFA
Chigozie Anusiem (Colorado State): Anusiem offers good length and speed as an outside cornerback, but his ball skills and route recognition have been put into question. That said, he does have potential in a press-man coverage scheme and could be a worthwhile “throw it on the wall and see what sticks” investment late on Day 3. | Expected round: 7-UDFA
The Patriots could, obviously, go after some of the higher-profile cornerbacks in this year’s draft as well. Players such as Cooper DeJean or Kool-Aid McKinstry would be good fits were they to slide into the second round. However, given the team’s needs on the offensive side of the ball, the later rounds might be its sweet spot.
And even so, there is some talent to work with to both complement the current top three and increase the overall quality below them.
Slot cornerback
Mike Sainristil (Michigan): A Massachusetts native and former wide receiver, Sainristil may be undersized at 5-foot-9, 182 pounds but has some intriguing traits. The two-time team captain combines ball skills and natural athleticism, and has the versatility to play both inside and outside. | Expected round: 2-3
Kris Abrams-Draine (Missouri): Like Mike Sainristil, Abrams-Draine also got his start at the wide receiver position and is slightly undersized by conventional standards. Nonetheless, he is a smooth mover and offers a physical skillset that should translate well to staying outside or moving into the slot. | Expected round: 3-4
Myles Harden (South Dakota): If the Patriots want to replace free agency departee Myles Bryant with a similar player type, Harden might be their guy. He has experience in multiple spots and does move well despite not having any high-end athletic traits. | Expected round: 6-7
Tarheeb Still (Maryland): Still does not possess elite speed or an imposing frame. What he does have, however, is a quick processor, physical mindset and position flexibility. | Expected round: 6-7
Jonathan and Marcus Jones both have qualities in the slot, and could line up at the position full-time. If the Patriots want to use them more flexibly, however, they will have options in the draft — both early and in the later rounds.
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