The cornerback position has been fortified for the Patriots heading into the 2025 season, thanks to the signing of Carlton Davis III to pair with Christian Gonzalez. However, cornerback is a position that you can never have enough depth in, and if New England wants to continue to bolster its secondary, there are plenty of options in the upcoming NFL draft.
If the Patriots take Travis Hunter fourth overall, we'll assume he'll play more receiver than in the secondary. Yes, he can do both, but we'll focus on guys who will play 100 percent of their snaps on the defensive side of the ball.
Will Eliot Wolf and Mike Vrabel look to that position in the draft? We'll see. It wouldn't hurt to do so.
Cornerbacks the Patriots should target in the draft
1. Ben Morrison
ESPN has the Notre Dame product as the seventh-best cornerback among this spring's prospects, and given his 2024 season ended early due to a hip injury, there's a chance he could fall into the second or third round. That could be good news for the Patriots.
Morrison was arguably Notre Dame's best defensive back last season before his injury sent him to the sidelines. His short arms are one of his downfalls, but Morrison is a physical guy who can win at the line of scrimmage and is 6'0", which is decent size.
The Patriots have had tackling issues in their secondary in recent years. Morrison is known as a strong tackler and had nine interceptions between 2022 and 2023.
2. Azareye'h Thomas
One thing Florida State has been known for since the days of Deion Sanders is recruiting athletic cornerbacks who play the ball well, and at 6'2'', Thomas fits that bill perfectly.
Thomas was a bright spot on a pitiful 2024 Seminoles team. He has the combination of quickness and hands to play a plethora of coverages. Rated as the fifth cornerback in the draft, Thomas could come off the board in the second round, and if the Patriots are able to stockpile more picks, he's a guy who could be a valuable steal.
3. Will Johnson
The Michigan product would almost certainly be a high-risk, high-reward pick thanks to his injury history. Although he is the third best corner on ESPN's board, Johnson missed more than half the 2024 season with a toe injury while a hamstring injury cost him his pro day.
Despite that, Johnson is another big, athletic corner at 6'2'' and reads the quarterback well. He's another guy who could drop slightly due to the injuries and fall right into New England's grasp. Johnson recorded three pick-sixes in his college career, so he's a guy who can make plays after creating turnovers, and that trait could perhaps help Marcus Jones somewhat in the punt return department.