The Patriots did a good job addressing their needs in the NFL Draft.
The New England Patriots did a good job addressing their needs in the NFL Draft, but there is still room for improvement at multiple positions such as left guard, linebacker or edge.
The biggest issue among them, however, at least in the eyes of ESPN analyst Aaron Schatz, is at a position you might not expect.
New England Patriots
Position of need: Cornerback depth
The Patriots have three starting cornerbacks. Christian Gonzalez covered the opposition’s No. 1 option more often than any other corner in the league last season, according to FTN data charting. He’s joined by veteran Carlton Davis III on the outside and Marcus Jones in the slot. But there’s a problem if injuries hit.
Alex Austin started four games over the past few seasons but isn’t a strong option. There are a couple of late-round draft picks — Marcellas Dial Jr. from 2024 and seventh-rounder Kobee Minor this year. Fourth-round safety Craig Woodson might be able to play some slot, but there’s a significant drop-off from the top three.
In total, the Patriots have nine cornerbacks on their roster at the moment. Besides the six mentioned, they also have Isaiah Bolden, Miles Battle and D.J. James signed.