The Patriots have the best secondary in the League. If the Patriots can generate consistent pressure against opponents’ QBs, they should have a significant increase in the number of interceptions and improved field position in 2026.
Cornerbacks
Christian Gonzalez – Gonzalez has been the talk of the off-season because he is due a new contract. After 3 seasons, players can re-negotiate their rookie deals. Gonzalez is due a big raise. He has already been selected as an All-Pro and one of the top 3 DBs in the NFL. This isn’t just me saying this; it’s ESPN’s Chris Fowler who polled NFL GMs and Scouts. They listed Gonzo as the #3 CB in the league. He is probably going to get a contract in the 35M AAV for 4 years. Don’t be shocked at what he gets.
Marcus Jones – Jones is a terrific Punt Returner and took 2 punts back for TDs last year. Those are game-breakers. However, he is also one of the best slot corners in the league. When matched up against opponents’ slot corners, he has the mobility and speed to keep up with them. It’s when he gets matched up against bigger WRs and TEs that he has trouble. He is small at 5’8”, 188 pounds and received a 69.2 overall PFF defensive grade in the 2025 season, 26th among 114 qualified cornerbacks. His PFF coverage grade of 72.2 ranked 25th among 114 qualified cornerbacks. Put that in perspective: there are 32 #1 CBs in the league. He is better than 6 teams’ #1 CBs.
Carlton Davis – Davis saved his best for the playoffs with two interceptions in the win versus the Texans. He was managed well by the Patriots. He played in all 21 games, and that was the first time in his career that he played an entire season without missing games because of injury. In 2025, he was given a 67.8 overall PFF defensive grade, 34th among 114 qualified cornerbacks. His PFF coverage grade of 65.1 ranked 49th among 114 qualified cornerbacks. His run-defense grade of 77.8 ranked 14th at the position. As with Jones, he was 2 spots out of a #1 CB grade.
Charles Woods – Woods emerged as the replacement for Christian Gonzalez when he missed the 1st three games. He did an adequate job when asked to play. Woods went undrafted in 2024 but signed with the LA Rams and made their 53-man roster. He played in three games and was cut in December, then re-signed to their Practice Squad. He went to camp with the Rams but was waived at the final cutdowns, where the Patriots swept in and claimed him.
Marcellas Dial – Dial had a lost season last year with a knee injury. He had a torn ACL in camp and was put on IR, ending his season. He was a 2024 6th-round draft pick (180th) by the Patriots and was active for all 17 games and had 12 Tackles and 1 start. In 2026, Dial is expected to push for a roster spot as a backup and special-teams player. He is one to watch in camp as he comes back from the knee injury.
Kobee Minor – Mr. Irrelevant was the last draft pick in the 2025 draft. Minor was cut at the final cutdown and re-signed to the Practice Squad. He spent nearly the entire year on the PS only to be elevated to the 53-man roster on January 1st and spent the entire playoff run on the roster. He had 1 Tackle in the 4 games he played. Minor is 5’11”, 188, and ran a poor 4.56 40 at his Pro Day. I was quite surprised he was drafted at all. I think he is fighting for another turn on the Practice Squad.
Brandon Crossley – The 2025 UDFA played 79 snaps on defense during his rookie preseason on the way having a hand in six tackles, one forced fumble, and one pass breakup. He was released at cutdown date and resigned in November to the Practice Squad. He was released from the PS on January 6th. After the season, he signed a futures contract with the Patriots and will be in camp. He will be fighting for a Practice Squad spot.
Kindle Vildor – The veteran Vildor gives the Patriots a potential backup player with experience as a starter. He was a 2020 5th-round pick (163) by Chicago. He was the starting CB to begin the 2022 season but was felled by an injury late in the season and put on IR. He accumulated 46 Tackles while starting 12 games in 2021 and 34 Tackles with 9 starts in 2022 before the injury. Vildor has bounced around the league, signing a one-year contract with Tampa Bay last season before inking a one-year deal with the Patriots this Spring. Vildor will be in stiff competition for that last DB spot on the team, barring injuries.
Kayron Prunty – The Prunty selection was generally deemed to be a reach by Draft experts. He was taken in the 5th round (171). Most draft experts didn’t have a write-up on him and didn’t expect him to be drafted. The Athletics Dane Brugler, a Draft Expert that I depend upon to give me great coverage of prospects, had Prunty ranked 57th of draft eligible CBs in this year’s draft. I think he made a mistake. Prunty ran a 4.45 40 and a 6.82 3-cone drill. He stands 6’1.4”, 190-pounds. He has a knack for disrupting plays with his 8 Pass Break Ups in 2025. The Demon Deacon was selected to the 3rd Team All-ACC last year. He is one to watch in training camp and I expect him to make the team.
Channing Canada – Canada is an interesting UDFA. He ran a 4.36 40 at his Pro Day and added 7.05 3-cone drill. He stands 5’11.4”, 1990-pounds and played at TCU with Namdi Obiazor. I am excited to see what he can do on Special Teams to see if he has a legit chance to make the team. At the very least he is a candidate for the Practice Squad. Canada signed a very lucrative $3.12M three-year contract with the Patriots that includes $267,500 in guaranteed money. That guarantee is equivalent to being on the Practice Squad all year.
Kenneth Harris – Harris impressed scouts during the pre-draft process with his exceptional strength, recording 22 bench-press repetitions. Had he participated at the NFL Scouting Combine, that total would have led all cornerbacks. Oklahoma State highlighted the performance on social media, showcasing his physicality and work ethic.
On the field, Harris was a productive defensive back for the Cowboys, finishing his final season with 33 tackles, one sack, and six pass breakups. He also contributed on special teams, a skill that could improve his chances of earning a roster spot in New England. His combination of strength, versatility, and special-teams value makes him an intriguing player to watch during training camp.
Safeties
Kevin Byard – Byard was an All-Pro last season at age 32 and led the NFL with 7 Interceptions. His signing during Free Agency was immense. What could this defense be with Byard patrolling the middle of the field? He will turn 33 in mid-August but has shown no signs of slowing down. The 5’ 11”, 212-pound Safety was a 3rd round pick (64) of Tennessee in 2016. Byard played for Vrabel in Tennessee and wanted to play for him again.
Craig Woodson – Woodson was an unheralded 4th round (104) draft choice of the Patriots last season. Many draft experts said it was a reach. They are not saying that now after Woodson won the starting job and made Kyle Dugger and Jabrill Peppers expendable. Woodson steadily progressed throughout the season. He received a 63.8 Grade from PFF and was ranked 53rd of 98 Safeties. However, in the 4 playoff games he had an 84.3 grade with an Interception. Playing with Byard should help the young player develop even more and I expect a big jump from him in year two.
Dell Pettus – I like Pettus. He earned a 78.6 overall PFF defensive grade in the 2025 season. His PFF coverage grade was 73.9 and he had a run-defense grade of 74.0. In 2024 the unheralded UDFA had a strong season in limited play. His PFF Defense grade was 73.9 overall, and his run-stopping grade was 83.9. The Patriots have found a gem amongst UDFAs and he is now a solid backup and Special Teams player.
Mike Brown – Brown signed a 1-year contract with the Patriots to be re-united with Mike Vrabel. Brown played for Vrabel at Tennessee. Initially he was a 2022 UDFA and didn’t get any significant playing time until he signed with the Titans in 2023. He will contribute on Special Teams and was seen during the OTAs and Mini Camp as the personal protector on the punt team. To me that is an indication that Brown will be on the team and a significant part of the special team units.
Peter Manuma – Manuma made a great impression at Patriots Rookie Mini Camp as an un-signed invitee. I was quite surprised that Manuma never received a UDFA contract offer. The Patriots gain! Manuma, listed at 6’0” and 199–205 lbs., ran a 4.47–4.49 40-yard dash at the combine and pro day, with a vertical jump of 35½ inches and a broad jump of 10’00”. Over four seasons at Hawaiʻi, he recorded 280 tackles, 11 TFL, 2 sacks, 5 INTs, 3 forced fumbles, and 15 passes defensed, earning All-Mountain West honorable mention four times. He has an outside chance to make the team but is more likely going to on the Practice Squad.
John Saunders The Patriots signed Saunders off the Dolphins practice squad in October and spent just the 3 weeks on the active roster required when poaching a player off another teams Practice Squad, then was release and re-signed to the Patriots Practice Squad. In 2024 the 6’2.3” 211-pound safety had 45 Tackles for Ole Miss. In 2023 at Ole Miss, he had 65 total tackles, 2 TFL, 3 INT, 5 PBU. Saunders played 5 years in college and had 11 total INTs. He is a longshot to make the team and is probably fighting to make the Practice Squad.
Support Mark and buy him a coffee.
Support Us: Help Us Compete Against The Corporate Media Giants
We need your help. If you enjoy our content, please help us beat Google's Corporate algorithm by adding us as a preferred source on Google News.
Click the button below and check the box next to "PatsFans.com"
Add as a preferred source on Google News
Merrimack Valley native and lifelong fan of the New England Patriots. My earliest memories of the Patriots were attending as a child with my dad, the off-season practice at Phillips Academy. I was at the Patriots game at Harvard Stadium in 1970 where Bob “Harpo” Gladieux was called out of the stands by the stadium announcer over the PA to play in the game. Analyzing the draft since ESPN first started to televise it in 1980 and former writer for the Lowell Sun Newspaper.
