The Patriots still have plenty of cap space to spend, and discussions are ongoing regarding if and how they should spend it. Most fans would argue that they have done enough work this offseason to set up a playoff push, making it easy to suggest they should spend the cash to boost the roster further. The reason is that there is no season but the one right in front of you. You go for it every year.
The Patriots have been aggressive, adding top players both on offense and defense. The defensive backfield, specifically the cornerbacks, was a priority in free agency, as the Patriots signed Carlton Davis III to work with Christian Gonzalez. Few NFL teams can boast of a better tandem.
The supposition is that Marcus Jones, predicted as a breakout player by Pro Football Focus, will man the slot corner. He probably will, but the thought here is his best position is on offense, where he and the team can best take advantage of his explosiveness.
But perhaps there is room to add another solid rotational piece into the mix. That's a point Bleacher Report's Moe Moton suggested the Patriots do by signing free agent Michael Davis.
Signing Michael Davis adds depth to the defensive backfield and maybe even more
Moton made some intriguing arguments about why Davis would be the perfect late-offseason addition to the secondary, citing their need for more depth as the main selling point, on top of his experience in multiple lineups.
"New England took an aggressive approach in free agency, signing five players to deals worth $11 million or more annually. As the Patriots ramp up offseason activities, they should consider an addition to the secondary to build depth at cornerback.
Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis III are locked in as starters. If Marcus Jones maintains the lead role in the slot, New England needs a backup boundary cornerback behind Gonzalez and Davis. Starting in 76 career games, (Michael) Davis would be a solid addition on the boundary."
Adding another veteran cornerback is a solid idea, especially since the cost is likely to be reasonable. The 30-year-old Davis has a good size at 6'2" and 196 pounds. While he had a down season in 2024, in 2023, he logged solid numbers, including 62 total stops and 10 passes defended. He'd be a solid boundary backup, yet he might facilitate another move that could benefit the team even more.
Signing Davis could make way for Marcus Jones to go to offense
A constant drumbeat to some has been that Marcus Jones is a secret weapon and is being misemployed on defense. The few times he's been unleashed on offense, he has been electric. Just look at the film. For a team that already added explosiveness to the offense with running back TreVeyon Henderson and wide receiver Kyle Williams, adding a third in Jones could signal three strikes, and the opposition's defense is out.
Jones is a solid slot corner, but his size is somewhat limiting. Davis or one of the other corners, such as Alex Austin or Isaiah Bolden, could take that slot position and free up Jones to move to offense. The 2024 Patriots' offense was bereft of playmakers. Mike Vrabel made aggressive moves in free agency to remedy that situation. Yet, you never have too many explosive offensive players on your team.
Signing Davis would be another great addition, no matter where he's deployed in the defensive backfield. But if his presence allows Jones to play where he should, on offense, it will be too good an opportunity for Vrabel to pass up.
Vrabel's already added major upgrades on both sides of the ball and special teams. But the veteran coach and his coordinator, Josh McDaniels, shouldn't be reluctant to "think outside the box" and move Marcus Jones to offense. As a receiver or third-down back, he'd be unstoppable. The same can be said for defender Keion White, who's been misemployed as a stand-up edge.
Adding Michael Davis, as suggested by Moton, makes sense on a whole host of levels. He'd add a solid veteran depth option at outside cornerback. Yet, he could also start in the slot if Vrabel and McDaniels come to their senses and realize Marcus Jones belongs on offense.