The Secondary

[Real fan 02]

Likely Williams is playing 3 CBs and 3 safeties.. Peppers, Dugger, Woodson *

 

[Real fan 02]

Bryant would immediately be our #5 corner, backing up both outside and inside.

I like Bryant in the slot.. excellent tackler

 

[Real fan 02]

I think Farmer will be a great DT sub as well. Having a strong rotation is critical.

As well as Tonga...

 

[Huckleberry1]

I think Farmer will be a great DT sub as well. Having a strong rotation is critical.

I agree. Like Woodson I went back after the draft and listened to pre draft podcasts that discussed their DL and Secondary rankings, and they raved about Farmer. Said he came into FSU at 250 and put on 65 lbs, with almost all of it muscle, and that as the standout on FSU’s defense team’s game planned against him and he still played great, and played to the whistle every down. Both of those guys were steals, and that’s by pre draft takes, not post draft Patriot fan optimism. Farmer is going to be a regular part of their interior DL rotation from the start.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Will whoever added the poll please have Epps as a separate choice.

Also, there should be a place for a new acquisition, IMO much more likely than any of the bottom 4 and Minkins.

I want to be able to register my view that Epps is likely to be one our starting defensive backs (until Woodson takes over that position). And the view that Minkins is very unlikely to make the 53.
===========
I expect us to have 5 corners plus 4 safeties, although I am fine with a 5th safety.

2 outside corners, a NB, plus the combination of Austin and one (or even two) PS/UDFA types is just not sufficient.

Mg, why did you have Marcus Jones in the poll? He’s a lock starter, not a bubble player.

 

[JayNM]

Likely Williams is playing 3 CBs and 3 safeties.. Peppers, Dugger, Woodson *

the real worry in injury. Quality-wise, with we counting on Woodson in games like you are doing now, it has potential to be good

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

I agree. Like Woodson I went back after the draft and listened to pre draft podcasts that discussed their DL and Secondary rankings, and they raved about Farmer. Said he came into FSU at 250 and put on 65 lbs, with almost all of it muscle, and that as the standout on FSU’s defense team’s game planned against him and he still played great, and played to the whistle every down. Both of those guys were steals, and that’s by pre draft takes, not post draft Patriot fan optimism. Farmer is going to be a regular part of their interior DL rotation from the start.

Swinson is the mystery. Why did he drop so much?

 

[Real fan 02]

Swinson is the mystery. Why did he drop so much?

Why Did Bradyn Swinson Fall to Day 3 of 2025 NFL Draft? Examining the Reasons Behind LSU EDGE's Shocking Slide

Bradyn Swinson's fall to Day 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft was a big surprise. Let's examine why the New England Patriots pass rusher didn't go earlier.

www.profootballnetwork.com

 

[Huckleberry1]

Swinson is the mystery. Why did he drop so much?

I don’t know. I thought it might be a weakness holding the edge, but the only knocks I found on him were technical, which can easily be cleaned up with good coaching. And he’s a great fit for what the Patriots will likely be using him, which is as a situational pass rusher.

*Edit: the article above gave the relevant information,

 

[signbabybrady]

Swinson is the mystery. Why did he drop so much?

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Why Did Bradyn Swinson Fall to Day 3 of 2025 NFL Draft? Examining the Reasons Behind LSU EDGE's Shocking Slide

Bradyn Swinson's fall to Day 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft was a big surprise. Let's examine why the New England Patriots pass rusher didn't go earlier.

www.profootballnetwork.com

The article says Swinson was a 5 year senior with only one year of production so teams wonder if his skill will consistently translate. Valid concern with one good year out of 5, but the other 4 years were not bad. I really like Farmer and Swinson because we need quality depth.

 

[JohnJH]

The best possible outcome for him is special teams player. He doesn’t possess the mobility, but he’s a great athlete in every other regard.

It's too bad, because he's 6'2, has the weight, and is very fast.

 

[rkarp1]

I continue to see Woodson at FS only, not CB
I am fine with Gonza, Davis and Austin at border CB and M Jones in the slot. I really don't want to see Marcus on the border. Dial imo is that next guy.
Peppers, Dugger, Woodson are locks at S. Epps, Hawkins, Mapu battling for most likely the last spot.
Schooler and Pettus locks on ST and emergency DB's

 

[Real fan 02]

I agree. Like Woodson I went back after the draft and listened to pre draft podcasts that discussed their DL and Secondary rankings, and they raved about Farmer. Said he came into FSU at 250 and put on 65 lbs, with almost all of it muscle, and that as the standout on FSU’s defense team’s game planned against him and he still played great, and played to the whistle every down. Both of those guys were steals, and that’s by pre draft takes, not post draft Patriot fan optimism. Farmer is going to be a regular part of their interior DL rotation from the start.

Correct, Williams was saying coach T. ( Terrell Williams) as the players calls him.. wants the DL fresher in the 4th quarter and with the bye week late it will serve them good to have a deep rotation of guys. Depth is paramount for this team.

 

[SlowGettingUp]

and is a great athlete

Wonder if Battle might actually be the fastest guy on the team? 4.37 for the 40. Is anyone else apart from Gonzales (4.38) under 4.4?
Edit: I see Henderson and Gibson are both 4.39 and I previously wrote Campbell instead of Gonzo.

 

[Real fan 02]

The article says Swinson was a 5 year senior with only one year of production so teams wonder if his skill will consistently translate. Valid concern with one good year out of 5, but the other 4 years were not bad. I really like Farmer and Swinson because we need quality depth.

I like what swinson brings. He definitely will be heavily in the rotation as he has a great motor and does not give up on a play. Farmer and swinson absolutely will be factors this season for sure.

 

[signbabybrady]

Wonder if Battle might actually be the fastest guy on the team? 4.37 for the 40. Is anyone else apart from Campbell (4.38) under 4.4?

I think Bolden ran a 4.31 or 4.32

 

[JohnJH]

Wonder if Battle might actually be the fastest guy on the team? 4.37 for the 40. Is anyone else apart from Campbell (4.38) under 4.4?
Edit: I see Henderson and Gibson are both 4.39

Isaiah Bolden ran a 4.35 at the Combine.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Wonder if Battle might actually be the fastest guy on the team? 4.37 for the 40. Is anyone else apart from Campbell (4.38) under 4.4?
Edit: I see Henderson and Gibson are both 4.39

I think Bolden ran a 4.31 or 4.32

Gonzo ran a 4.38. Gonzo ran at the combine which is computer clocked (FAT system). Battle ran at his Pro Day with a hand stopwatch. Hand times are always faster than computer times, some track experts say up to 0.5 seconds faster. So Battle's time might be 4.4+ seconds if run on a computerized track (FAT time).

Yes, hand-timed track events typically show faster times than those recorded by fully automated systems (FAT). This is because human reaction time in starting and stopping the stopwatch introduces a slight delay. Specifically, the timer starts the clock after seeing the smoke from the gun, and often anticipates the runner crossing the finish line, stopping the clock before the actual finish.

 

[SlowGettingUp]

Isaiah Bolden ran a 4.35 at the Combine.

So he might well be the fastest guy on the team. I recall he played more towards the end of last season, but can't say I remember how he did. In college he was a good kick returner.