Bodden is probably still out there trying to find the right fit. He played all 16 games last year and is only 27 years old. From what I read, they said Detriot's Tampa-2 defense wasn't a good fit for him. He is a big CB, so he probably is a better fit playing man and jamming guys than staying back in a zone. Not everyone uses their CB that way.
In a classic Tampa-2 system, you like bigger CB's.
The Pats have tended to use 5-9 to 5-10 CB's who are very quick. The Pat's system is designed make the right read, break on the ball, and be there when the ball arrives. Larger DL and LB cover the run and shorter zones.
In the Tampa-2 system, CB's often play back a bit more, keep the play in front of them, and come up on the receiver or runner. The smaller, faster front seven attack, and the bigger secondary cleans up.
Most of the free agent corners the Pats have signed have been smaller, quicker guys. Sanders was about the biggest corner the Pats have used the past three or four years, and he didn't really have a primary role. But look at the players they have targeted recently - Poole, Starks, Bryant, Wheatley, Wilhite - mostly 5-10, 190, quick corners.
However, note that Springs is also 6-0, 200+, so he is the biggest guy they've had in a while.
Given the size of the deal, it's much less likely they pursue Bodden hard. I'm surprised at the size - three years, max $12.8 mm. That's over $4mm a year - so Bodden must want significantly more than that. But that's not that much less than Greer at $5mm or so a year.
Given the size of the deal, sounds like the corner depth chart will be:
Hobbs
Springs
Wheatley
Wilhite
Rookie
Actual order to be determined through pre-season.
