With the 2011 NFL Draft quickly approaching, the New England Patriots have been hard on the scouting trail.
Seemingly every day, news comes out of another player being worked out (you can find scouting reports on all of those players here and here). One of the more popular positions on those lists is cornerback, where the Patriots have privately worked out eight prospects.
Why would this be? The Patriots have drafted at least one cornerback in the first two rounds for three years straight—Terrence Wheatley in 2008, Darius Butler in 2009 and Devin McCourty in 2010.
Bill Belichick has said on many occasions that with the NFL taking a turn toward a pass-happy league, you can never have too many talented defensive backs on the roster.
Most teams, realistically speaking, want to have at least three capable cover cornerbacks on their roster. The third cornerback is often seen like a starter in many respects because that player will be on the field very frequently and will be asked not only to cover, but also to help out in run support.
With the great rookie season of McCourty, the return of Leigh Bodden and the emergence of Kyle Arrington, it would seem the Patriots are at that bench mark.
Consider, if you will, the responsibilities of a nickel cornerback. He must be able to both defend quicker slot receivers and provide a significant level of support in run defense, as he is essentially a linebacker.
The best run defender the Patriots currently have in the secondary is McCourty, who contributed to 73 tackles in 2010.
Leigh Bodden isn't a slouch, either. He had 47 solo tackles and eight assists in 2009.
The Patriots like to mix up their coverages a bit, so their versatility will go to good use, but the Patriots probably feel a bit better about their defense with those guys lined up on the outside.
So something has to be done in the nickel, unless Arrington is the solution. Arrington played well as the second corner, and has that physical nature to give support in the running game.
Whether he can carry the success from last year over into 2011 remains to be seen.
He was being beat out by Jonathan Wilhite for the third cornerback spot on the roster, until Wilhite went down with an injury.
Speaking of which, as pointed out by Kristen Shilton of Fox Hole, Wilhite hit all of his escalators and will have a base salary of $1.2 million in 2011. It's clear he's not worth that kind of money, so unless he's willing to restructure his deal, he may very well not be with the team next season.
Behind Wilhite, Butler had his share of difficulties in 2010. A second-round selection in 2009, Butler has all the athleticism to be a success in the NFL. His severe lapses in concentration in between his flashes of brilliance continue to leave room for doubt in terms of his overall development.
With that, it's easy to see why the situation is murky at cornerback. The Patriots know where the value is for what they're looking for in a cornerback, and are scouring the deep group of prospects for guys worth the pick on draft day.
I would call it nothing more than Belichick doing his due diligence.
Chad Moeller Jorge Posada Lance Berkman Reegie Corona Juan Miranda Colin Curtis
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