MORSE: Patriots Cornerback, Wide Receiver Preview & Morse’s Morsels
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With camp just two weeks away I will look at the current group of New England Patriots Cornerbacks and Wide Receivers.
The Patriots have a budding star in Christian Gonzalez, the 2023 1st round selection (# 17) from Oregon and Colorado. He was selected Defensive Rookie of the month before he hurt his shoulder and was out for the year. He is back practicing, and it looks like he didn’t miss a beat. His selection was considered a steal by Bill Belichick, especially after trading down and passing on a Tackle.
Marcus Jones also returns from injury and will line up in the slot. The super quick but small DB has the change of direction skills to cover those jitterbug slot receivers. Jones was selected as the 1st Team All-Pro Punt Returner. His return will boost the Patriots Punt Return game as he is a threat to score every time he touches the ball. In 2022, he also contributed on Offense with 4 catches for 78 yards, a 19.5 YPC. I don’t see him being used on Offense this year, but you never know.
Jonathan Jones turns 31 this season and that is old for a DB. As of this writing Jones is penciled in as the Right Cornerback. I would really like to see him at Free Safety. He has the instincts and speed to play the position.
Alex Austin made people stand up and take notice at the end of last season. The Buffalo Bills made him a 7th round selection (#252) but cut him during the final cutdown. Houston claimed him and he spent 6 weeks on the active roster then waived him in October only to re-sign him top their Practice Squad. The Patriots claimed him when he was waived off the Houston Practice Squad. He finished the season with 9 tackles in 5 games with one start and had an interception in the last game of the season against the Buffalo Bills. The Oregon State product has impressive size at 6’1”, 191 lbs. His 40 time of 4.56 doesn’t wow anyone and a 7.06 3-cone drill is good but not great.
Marco Wilson is another interesting player. He has 3 years’ experience and was the starter for Arizona from his rookie year in 21. He was drafted by Arizona in the 4th round (#136) of the 2021 draft out of Florida. In his three years with Arizona, he had 48, 56 and 53 tackles respectively, and started 13, 13 and 11 games. The Cardinals waived him on December 26th after he lost his starting job and was claimed by the Patriots the next day. In the final game against Buffalo, he added one tackle. His speed is impressive with a 4.37 40-yard dash time. This gives the Pats a backup player with experience. I would not be surprised to see Wilson play some Free Safety.
Shaun Wade was acquired by the Patriots at the end of Training Camp in 2021. He was the 5th Round selection (#160) of the Baltimore Ravens. The Pats traded a 5th and 7th round picks to acquire him and he has not worked out. The former All-American from Ohio State stand 6’ 1”, 198 lbs. and runs a 4.46 40-yard dash. Last season was his 1st with any significant playing time. He recorded 23 tackles in 6 starts in the 14 games he played in. Wilson is in direct competition with Wade, and this should be an interesting camp battle.
Isaiah Bolden was selected in the 7th round (#245) by the Patriots last year. In a pre-season game, he awkwardly collided with teammate Calvin Munson and was temporarily immobilized. The remainder of the game was suspended. Bolden was immediately put on IR and lost for the season. Bolden was expected to contribute on special teams as a gunner and is a perfect replacement for Matthew Slater. This is not to say he is anywhere near as good, that remains to be seen. If Bolden makes the team, it will be because of his Special Teams ability.
Azizi Hearn is a physically gifted athlete. At 6’1”, 205 lbs., he is a big cornerback. In his college career he started 37 games and played in a total of 57. However, that was for three different D1 teams. He started at Arizona in 2018, Wyoming for 2019 – 2021 and finished at UCLA in 2023. In all those games, he had just one INT. From his Pro-Day, he ran a 4.48 40-yard dash, did 6.92 3-cone drill and had 18 reps on the Bench Press. He does have small hands. In the 2023 draft he went Undrafted and signed with Ls Vegas. He was cut at the final cutdown and chose to sign with New England’s Practice Squad where he remained for the entire season. This past January he signed a Futures contract with the Pats. I suspect that he will battle Isaiah Bolden for that last CB spot, and it will come down to who performs better on Special Teams.
Marcellas Dial was drafted by the Patriots in the 6th round (#180) out of South Carolina. The 6’ 190 lb, DB ran a 4.46 40-yard dash but a miserable 7.28 3-cone drill at the combine. This says that his speed is strictly straight line with poor change of direction skills. Dial played in 38 games in the SEC and started 29 of those. Darius Rush (2023 5th rd pick IND) and Cam Smith (2023 3rd pick MIA) forced Dial to play in the slot and until they were gone and he moved to CB. The Patriots thought enough of him to bring him in before the draft as one of their 30 approved visits. He was listed as one of losers from the East West Shrine game getting beaten for a 52-yard reception. He will battle for the final DB slot, and he must impress on Special Teams to make the cut. At the least he will be a candidate for the Practice Squad.
Kaleb Ford-Dement played at Texas State and was signed as an Undrafted Free Agent by the Patriots. The 5’11” 176 DB ran a 4.5 40-yard dash and 6.8 3-cone drill at his Pro Day. Those numbers got him noticed and an invitation to join Training Camp. We can’t tell what a DB will do in shorts and shells of OTAs. His slender frame may be a deterrent to making the team. At best he is a candidate for the Practice Squad.
Mikey Victor The Alabama State product stands 6’2.3” 205 lbs. He ran a miserable 4.67 40-yard dash at his Pro Day. I have also seen a different 40 number (4.57). The 4.67 is from the very reliable NFL Draft Scout. His saving grace was a 6.82 3-cone drill which indicates very good change of direction. My concern is that he won’t have the make up speed to catch Pro Receivers that make double moves. His measured wingspan was 80”. The Undrafted Free Agent went the JUCO route then enrolled at University of Nevada Las Vegas. He transferred to Alabama State and started for two years. The long CB uses his size to break up passes.
Pro Football Focus has ranked the Patriots WRs the worst group in the NFL. This is the 2nd year in a row they have been at the bottom.
Kendrick Bourne is one of the most experienced WRs in the Patriots camp. He was having a very good season until an ACL injury sidelined him. The Patriots thought enough of him to bring him back even though he had questions marks coming off an ACL injury. Bourne has diligently worked to get back to his old form. He was held out of OTAs and Mini Camp because of the injury. I think the Patriots are being cautious. Training camp will show if he can still play. Don’t be surprised if he starts out on PUP.
Juju Smith-Schuster admitted he was not 100% last year (more like 60%). He should be ashamed for taking a paycheck and playing at 60%. I am very surprised they have brought him back. I thought for sure he would be a June 1st cap casualty. I don’t think he has anything left in the tank and he can’t separate.
The Pats signed KJ Osborn away from the Vikings. The 2020 5th round pick (#180) by Minnesota has started 30 of 59 games played with Minnesota. He has a very poor Target to Catch percentage of 64%. Dropping catchable passes is a problem. The 4-year vet stands 6’ 203” lb. and ran a 4.48 40 and 7.00 3-cones drill. The receiver started 12 of 16 games last season and had 48 catches for 450 yards, his worst performance since not playing as a rookie.
Demario Douglas was the lone bright spot in the receiving corp. The unheralded wideout was drafted in the 6th round (#210) out of Liberty University. His speed stood out at 5’ 8”, 198 lbs, he ran a 4.44 40 and 7.05 3-cone. He was very difficult to cover and a threat every time he touched the ball. In 2023 he started 7 games and appeared in 14 total. His total receptions of 49 were second only to Ezekiel Elliot’s 51. Those receptions were good for 561 yards and a 11.4 YPC. He is most effective working out of the slot and Van Pelts passing game should revolve around him.
In a draft loaded with Wide Receivers the Patriots took two of them. Did they take the right ones? The 1st receiver taken was Washington’s Ja’Lynn Polk in the second round (#37). The 6’1” 203 lb wideout doesn’t impress with his speed, running just a 4.52 40. This is what former NFL player and expert analyst Steve Smith Jr., had to say about Polk during the pre-draft process, “He’s not fast. He’s not slow. He can play football…He’s not going to outrun many people, but he’s strong at the point of attack. He’s strong with the ball in his hands. That’s what gives him that advantage. Eye and hand coordination cannot be taught. Ja’Lynn Polk’s ability to adjust to the football is excellent.” PFF Fantasy Football ranks Polk as one of their three sleeper picks based upon ability and opportunity. As the principle wideout he will have a great opportunity to become the #1 receiver very quickly. Post Draft rumors had the Patriots trying to trade back into the 1st round to take WR Xavier Legette. Instead. they traded picks #33 and # 137 to Los Angelas Chargers for picks #37 and #110. LAC took WR Ladd McConkey from Georgia, the player I preferred. These two players will forever be linked to see which team made out better in that deal. Most observers thought the Patriots took Polk a round earlier than they should have. I don’t look at it that way. They liked Polk and didn’t think he would be around in the 3rd round to take. Yes, it may have been earlier than they wanted to take him, but that is just how the draft played out.
The other rookie is the brash Javon Baker from University of Central Florida. The Patriots selected him in the 4th round (#110). He too will be linked to that trade as the Patriots received #110 for their #137 as part of the trade. So, if they don’t make the trade, they probably won’t have a chance to draft Baker. In his interviews immediately after the draft, Baker appeared to be miffed at all the teams that passed on him stating they will pay (for not taking him). He also stands 6’1” 202 lbs, running a middle of the road 4.54 40. I fear that Baker played in an inferior D1 conference and was a big fish in a small pond. He was originally stuck behind some great receivers at Alabama. He transferred to UCF to get out of their shadow. I hope I am wrong about Baker, and he shows me and all his other detractors what he can do.
Tyquan Thornton was taken in the 2nd round (#50) of the 2022 draft ahead of WR George Pickens of the Steelers. In his 1st game as a Pro, he broke his collarbone in a Pre-season game and was lost for the season. The knock on him has been that he is too slight at 6’2” 185 lbs, gaining 4 lbs since his rookie year. Oh, he can fly, with 4.28 speed, but he can’t run pass routes. I would have thought that scouts would know he doesn’t run good routes ahead of him being drafted. Thornton is a bust and they should give his reps to someone that might be able to help the team and who can be relied upon to catch the ball when it’s thrown to them.
Jalen Reagor is another receiver that can’t hold onto the ball and has way too many drops. Reagor was the former #1 pick of the Eagles (#21) in the 2020 Draft. He has 147 career targets and 79 receptions. That is a 54% reception rate. I don’t want a receiver that catches slightly better than one of every two passes thrown to him. I don’t care if he is a good Kick Off return man. The Patriots have Marcus Jones who can do the Kick-Off returns.
Kayshon Boutte was a surprise last year as a rookie. He lasted until the 6th round (#187) when the Patriots called his name. This from a Pre-season favorite to be the top Wide Receiver taken. Did all the other teams know something the Patriots just didn’t know, or did they ignore it and took him based on talent alone? This off-season Boutte was indicted on charges of making an alleged 8900 underage illegal bets. This included 6 on LSU football games while he played for them. Can’t believe he is occupying a roster spot. Are they hoping for another Jack Jones miracle? How did that work out for the Pats? Boutte can’t be relied upon and should have been released.
Ja’Quae Jackson played in D2 California University of Pennsylvania for 4 years and transferred to Rutgers and played in the Big 10. The 6’1 184 lb wideout led the Scarlett knights with 22 receptions for 361 yards and a TD. At his Pro Day he ran a 4.52 40 and 6.85 3-cone drill according to NFL Draftscout. I have read that he ran a sub 4.5 40 at his Pro Day from another source. Jackson was signed after the draft as an UDFA but released in June when the Pats scooped him up. I believe that Jackson is just camp fodder.
Kawaan Baker was a 2022 7th round (#255) draft choice of the New Orleans Saints out of South Alabama. He was cut at the final cutdown and then re-signed to the Practice Squad. Baker was suspended for 6 games in 2022 and subsequently cut by the Saints. He re-signed with their Practice Squad in December and signed a future contract for 2023. He was cut at the final cut downs in 2023 and remained out of football until he signed a futures contract with the Patriots in January. The 6’1” 215 lbs. receiver ran a 4.43 40 at this Pro Day but subsequently ran a 7.45 3-cone drill. Straight line speed only.
David Wallis is a D3 player from Randolph Macon college. During his career he posted 144 catches for 3,144 yards and 46 TDs. He ran a 4.50 40 and 6.94 3-cone drill. He was invited to rookie camp on a tryout basis and after an impressive performance he was signed afterwards as an UnDrafted Free Agent. Keep an eye out for him in camp. He might just be a great story if he can make it. There is room for a player like him to develop on the Practice Squad.
Patriots Sign Tavai to Contract Extension
The Patriots extended another key performer to a three-year extension worth up to $21M. Linebacker Jahlani Tavai becomes the latest to re-up with the team. In 2023 Tavai’s defensive snaps increased to 74%. He also played 78% of the Special Teams snaps. In the last decade, he is the only player in the NFL to play 70% of the defensive snaps and 70% of the ST snaps in the same season. I would say that he earned that contract extension.
I like the signing the Patriots have made this season, concentrating on their own players, rewarding them and showing the locker room that you can get a second contract with the Patriots. This is in tune with their new draft, develop and re-sign philosophy.
This signing must really tick off Matt Judon and Davon Godchaux. Unfortunately. they are on the wrong side of 30 and I don’t think the team will extend either player. They may guarantee some of Godchaux’s contract to ease his concerns. Matt Judon played this game last year, by holding in. The team moved some money from future years into last year’s contract. That means there is even less available this year for the 32-year-old. I love Judon’s enthusiasm, and he is a stand-up guy, coming out week after week and facing the media. He is a leader in the clubhouse, but he is 32 and is coming to the end of the line.
Don’t be surprised if Judon is traded before the season or at the Trade Deadline to a contender that needs a pass rusher to put them over the top.
Godchaux’s Agent is Drew Rosenhaus
When Bill Belichick was here, he had a cozy relationship with Drew Rosenhaus, sometimes at the detriment to the team. The Patriots don’t seem to be moving on the contract front with Godchaux and subsequently Rosenhaus.
Josh Uche has gone back to having Drew Rosenhaus represent him. He was his original agent when he was drafted out of Michigan. I don’t know who was advising him when he re-signed with the Patriots. Uche signed for $3M and can earn up to $8M if all incentives are met. The reports stated that Uche left a lot of money on the table from other teams when he re-signed with the Patriots.
Under-the-Radar Scouting Department Moves
It is a different organization under Jerod Mayo. They are much more open with the media, giving out more information. These two moves are not really public knowledge. Here are two personnel moves in the scouting department from earlier this offseason are proof of that.
The Patriots recently promoted pro scout Sam Fioroni to assistant director of pro scouting, and they also moved Marquis Dickerson from scouting assistant to pro scout. Fioroni has been with the team since 2021, with Dickerson coming aboard one year later. Another example of the organization credo of promoting from within.
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Regarding Boutte. He’s gotta be on thin ice here in NE given his past. But that gambling thing was long ago correct? (I know only what was said here). So the pats already gave the guy a break for the past. It may have been a known? What this tells you is he’s got talent. Else he’d not be here. To me let it play out and give him a shot. It’s not a new thing this offseason. Regarding Ladd McConkey, he had an impressive film break down where it showed the guy is pro ready on route running… where… Read more »
I always enjoy your articles Mark. You write with enthusiasm and mostly have a unique point of view. I’m with you on Judon and Godchaux. They are not the future core of this team so no need to extend or even placate though I am more ambivalent about Godchaux than Judon since there is no apparent NT back-up on board. I believe he has been overpaid the last few years and certainly Judon ended up getting way overpaid for last year’s lost season.
Godshaux is a core player now and heavily needed. And he earned his salary in arrears. He’s been on the field and playing well. It’s why they paid him. True, he’s not long term here, but he s/b good another ~2 yrs. Him, they need.