Bledsoe At Free Safety

[mgteich]

Currently, Bledsoe is the only safety competing for his position, replacing Mills who played over 40% of the defensive snaps in 2023. Bledsoe played almost not at all since being drafted.

Hawkins, primarily a special teamer is a fine replacement for Phillips, who had that role in 2023.
============================
Mills was the first player off the bench at safety. I suspect that we will bring in a couple of competitors for the position. Sure, we could sign our favorite binkie top safety left, but I am OK with a JAG backup.

Not having a backup just doesn't work for me. To more I think about it, 40.33% of the reps made Mills more than a backup.

 

[50-yard-line]

Currently, Bledsoe is the only safety competing for his position, replacing Mills who played over 40% of the defensive snaps in 2023. Bledsoe played almost not at all since being drafted.

Hawkins, primarily a special teamer is a fine replacement for Phillips, who had that role in 2023.
============================
Mills was the first player off the bench at safety. I suspect that we will bring in a couple of competitors for the position. Sure, we could sign our favorite binkie top safety left, but I am OK with a JAG backup.

Not having a backup just doesn't work for me. To more I think about it, 40.33% of the reps made Mills more than a backup.

Disagree on the bolded, though he'll play STs, probably. Hawkins is a lot like Okorafor - a player who fell out of favor, whether through opening his mouth (Okorafor) or change in scheme (or the signing of Jesse Bates in Atlanta).

In short, he started 16 games at FS two years ago. I don't know if he'll be the Pats starting FS, but he's got a helluva lot more experience there than Bledsoe.

 

[Sicilian]

I wouldn't rule out Hawkins having a bigger role on defense. I also think having McCourty for a decade has kind of skewed how we view the safety position in the modern NFL. Very few teams have dedicated "free safeties" who are covering the deep middle of the field. More than likely we're going to rotate a lot of players into that spot. It's a nice tool to have in the box, but it's much harder to find than it used to be.

 

[mgteich]

Thanks for the info on Hawkins.

So, we need a #4S as a backup. Or perhaps we can carry only 3.
==============
BTW, I deleted the duplicate thread.

 

[XLIX]

I know Bledsoe looked good at the roast the other night, but I am not sure he's our answer at safety....

 

[SammyBlueCat]

I know Bledsoe looked good at the roast the other night, but I am not sure he's our answer at safety....

Drew took a lot of hits while he was QB. It's only fair that he has a chance to deliver a few.

 

[Steve102]

Drew took a lot of hits while he was QB. It's only fair that he has a chance to deliver a few.

I was gonna say... I think he's a little old. Must be putting elixir of youth in his wine barrels. Bring it on.

 

[SammyBlueCat]

I was gonna say... I think he's a little old. Must be putting elixir of youth in his wine barrels. Bring it on.

Tom finally shared some of his secrets

 

[TheRainMaker]

Bledsoe is retired and is enjoying making wine.

 

[Real fan 02]

Currently, Bledsoe is the only safety competing for his position, replacing Mills who played over 40% of the defensive snaps in 2023. Bledsoe played almost not at all since being drafted.

Hawkins, primarily a special teamer is a fine replacement for Phillips, who had that role in 2023.
============================
Mills was the first player off the bench at safety. I suspect that we will bring in a couple of competitors for the position. Sure, we could sign our favorite binkie top safety left, but I am OK with a JAG backup.

Not having a backup just doesn't work for me. To more I think about it, 40.33% of the reps made Mills more than a backup.

Is why to your point I can't understand why mills wasn't retained.. he can be a FS for us.. he played it well for the eagles. Just mind boggling to me.

 

[Real fan 02]

I know Bledsoe looked good at the roast the other night, but I am not sure he's our answer at safety....

We've got 2 excellent safeties in pep and Dugger.. i believe we just need a true FS that will free Dugger and pep up to create more confusion for QBs..

 

[Taxed in Maine]

I've thought that Bolden would be a good candidate to move to FS?

 

[gobesmug]

I've thought that Bolden would be a good candidate to move to FS?

Bolden was versatile being a core special team member during the 2nd dynasty while also making some key plays out of the backfield as a RB, not sure he still has the legs or range to tryout for FS

 

[Taxed in Maine]

Bolden was versatile being a core special team member during the 2nd dynasty while also making some key plays out of the backfield as a RB, not sure he still has the legs or range to tryout for FS

Isaiah Bolden, the second Year CB.

 

[Sciz]

Is why to your point I can't understand why mills wasn't retained.. he can be a FS for us.. he played it well for the eagles. Just mind boggling to me.

Mills said before free agency that he would be looking elsewhere for a starting job because he didn’t see that opportunity in NE.

 

[cmasspatsfan]

Isaiah Bolden, the second Year CB.

He's kidding like above with Bledsoe, just didn't land.

 

[captain stone]

Is why to your point I can't understand why mills wasn't retained.. he can be a FS for us.. he played it well for the eagles. Just mind boggling to me.

Yep, and he signed an Extremely reasonable contract with the Vagiants too, so it wasn't like he was out of our price range or anything.

 

[JohnJH]

Currently, Bledsoe is the only safety competing for his position, replacing Mills who played over 40% of the defensive snaps in 2023. Bledsoe played almost not at all since being drafted.

Hawkins, primarily a special teamer is a fine replacement for Phillips, who had that role in 2023.
============================
Mills was the first player off the bench at safety. I suspect that we will bring in a couple of competitors for the position. Sure, we could sign our favorite binkie top safety left, but I am OK with a JAG backup.

Not having a backup just doesn't work for me. To more I think about it, 40.33% of the reps made Mills more than a backup.

Cole Bishop (picked in the 2nd Round, 60th overall), would have been a player I would have traded a few picks from 2025 (4th,5th, and 7th Round Picks, or any other such combination) to acquire in this past draft. He has nice size, speed, and skills to play as a legit true FS. He's 6'2 and 206lbs and ran a 4.45 40 at the combine.

 

[Hyped]

Drew took a lot of hits while he was QB. It's only fair that he has a chance to deliver a few.

But is he cat quick?

 

[Real fan 02]

Mills said before free agency that he would be looking elsewhere for a starting job because he didn’t see that opportunity in NE.

Oh ok thanks for sharing that. Well we play 3 safeties he would have had a prime opportunity to take hold of the FS role had the stayed IMO