We don't know what we're going to get out of Wilson. However, I can't remember the last time a rookie safety started for us under Belichick from Week 1.
I believe that would be Eugene Wilson though I think it was actually from week 2 of his rookie year.
My take on the secondary is as follows.
Strength: McCourty and Chung - Both have plenty of room for improvement this year and both clearly have shown the skill to lead the secondary talent wise and as captains. I think Chung has been more steady while McCourty has flashed a much bigger ceiling. IMO the secondary will be as good as these two players.
Weakness: Who plays safety next to Chung. I think this will be a mixed bag especially early on With multiple guys filling the role. I have faith that Allen, Gregory, and Wilson will wind up being better than what we had last year and we still have one of last years option in Ihedibo to hopefully be no more then depth and STs.
The rest: Arrington played really well last and hopefully we can shift him back to the star where he has played well in the past. In order to this we need Dowling to pick up where he started off last year and stay healthy. Which then leaves Moore and Dennard rounding out the group along with some STers who will be fighting amongst themselves for limited STs spots and depth spots. I think one of Dennard and Moore will be CB4 and possibly 5 but STs will effect the 5th spot greatly.
I made some distinctions above between CB and S but I think the lines between the two will be blurrier then ever with this team this year given that McCourty, Allen, Moore, Wilson play both CB and S. Arrington can play inside or out and almost all of the safeties are interchangeble free and strong as the system dictates.
Summation this secondary can range from better than last year to vastly improved given the feasabilty of Chung and McCourty playing better than last year and Gregory, Allen and/or Wilson being a better group of Safties not named Chung from last year. Add a Healthy Dowling and a wildcard in Dennard and there is so much room for improvement.
IMO Arrington getting 7 picks like last year is probably the only spot you might not be better (shouldn't be worse) as I doubt he gets another 7+ but I also think the 7 picks made him look better then he is last year which isnt a dis as I think he is a very solid player and my point is he is very likely to play at a very similar level but not get 7 picks out of it.