The Patriots are providing early hints on how they plan to make use of Jalen Mills of their reworked secondary

Changing Devin McCourty within the Patriots’ secondary is a job simpler mentioned than finished.

However shortly after the longtime Patriots captain hung up his spikes in March, cornerback Jalen Mills took to social media to vouch for some reps at McCourty’s common spot at security.

Primarily based on what we’ve seen thus far throughout the Patriots’ organized staff actions (OTAs), Invoice Belichick and New England’s teaching workers heard Mills.

Despite the fact that Mills has primarily operated as an outdoor cornerback throughout his first two seasons in Foxboro, the 29-year-old defensive again has been shifted all around the depth chart thus far throughout the last stage of the NFL offseason.

A majority of Mills’ snaps throughout OTAs have both come at security or whereas lining up as slot nook, a large shift from his earlier position.

To this point, it looks as if the Patriots are working on a “by committee” method to changing McCourty.

Together with the present safeties on the roster like Kyle Dugger, Jabrill Peppers, and Adrian Phillips, New England has additionally handed 2023 third-round decide Marte Mapu (a linebacker at Sacramento State) some reps on the place this spring.

“It’s actually on [the coaches],” Mills mentioned of his shifting position on the Patriots’ roster. “Guys within the secondary, we come out within the huddle. I is likely to be on the market with Pep and Dugg, they usually’re like, ‘Hey Mills, go to nickel this drive.’

Or they is likely to be like, ‘Hey, go get on a decent finish this drive.’ … So I believe it’s simply, we discuss concerning the versatility of fellows with the ability to play each totally different factor.”

Jonathan Jones inking a two-year contract extension this offseason does give New England much more choices with secondary personnel. Jones has spent most of his profession with the Patriots as an efficient slot nook, however was moved to the surface in 2022.

To this point throughout OTAs, each Jones and first-round decide Christian Gonzalez have remained as exterior corners, with Mills shifting between slot nook and security.

Mills’ place shift stands as the newest transfer in what has been an attention-grabbing offseason for the defensive again. Whereas it was initially reported in March that the Patriots had been going to chop Mills with a view to save cap area, they ultimately restructured his deal right into a one-year contract that can let him hit free company in 2024.  

Mills and the Patriots are on the lookout for a clear slate in 2023, particularly after the veteran missed the ultimate six video games of the 2022 marketing campaign because of a nagging groin damage.

“Right here with the Patriots, all the things is a bit of bit sudden,” Mills mentioned. “However when your quantity’s known as, it’s important to be prepared.”