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

Patriots

Jalen Mills will probably be shifted over from his standard spot at exterior nook in the course of the 2023 season.

The Patriots held practice at their Gillette Stadium practice field. Jalen Mills catches a pass
Jalen Mills has been shifted everywhere in the depth chart to this point in the course of the Patriots’ OTA classes. John Tlumacki/Globe Employees

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

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 standard spot at security.

Primarily based on what we’ve seen to this point in the course of the Patriots’ organized group actions (OTAs), Invoice Belichick and New England’s teaching employees heard Mills.

Although Mills has primarily operated as an outdoor cornerback throughout his first two seasons in Foxboro, the 29-year-old defensive again has been shifted everywhere in the depth chart to this point in the course of the ultimate 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.

Up to now, it looks as if the Patriots are working on a “by committee” strategy 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 perhaps on the market with Pep and Dugg, they usually’re like, ‘Hey Mills, go to nickel this drive.’

Or they is perhaps like, ‘Hey, go get on a decent finish this drive.’ … So I feel it’s simply, we discuss concerning the versatility of fellows having the ability to play each completely 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.

Up to now 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 fascinating 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 house, they finally restructured his deal right into a one-year contract that may let him hit free company in 2024.  

Mills and the Patriots are searching for a clear slate in 2023, particularly after the veteran missed the ultimate six video games of the 2022 marketing campaign attributable to a nagging groin harm.

“Right here with the Patriots, every thing is somewhat bit surprising,” Mills mentioned. “However when your quantity’s referred to as, you must be prepared.”