Limiting foes through the air has been a glaring area of weakness for the New England Patriots early in the 2025 campaign. It's a huge part of the reason why they're sitting at 1-2, which the club ostensibly acknowledged by reportedly pursuing second-year cornerback Jarvis Brownlee Jr. However, a division rival beat them to the punch, recently acquiring him from the Tennessee Titans.
New England inquired about Brownlee before the Titans ultimately sent him to the New York Jets, per NFL insider Jordan Schultz. All it took was a late-round pick swap for Tennessee to part ways with the 24-year-old. Knowing this, the Patriots presumably made a lowball offer, though that doesn't change the fact that an AFC East competitor outbid them.
Whiffing on Brownlee amid New England's secondary woes is a tough blow in itself, let alone losing out on him to the Jets. We'd call this a double whammy of unfortunate outcomes for the Patriots, and their leaky coverage remains an issue; it's a terrible trifecta instead!
Patriots lose out on ex-Titans CB Jarvis Brownlee Jr. to AFC East rival Jets
Brownlee's documented attitude problems and knack for committing penalties at an alarmingly high rate seemingly attributed to his shocking downfall in Tennessee. Shortcomings aside, he's a good young player who's flashed potential and stood out in other areas of the game, specifically stopping the run. A Patriots franchise in a similar position would've happily taken on an intriguing reclamation project like him.
The absence of All-Pro cornerback Christian Gonzalez and the Pats' surprising decision to release safety Jabril Peppers are notable factors. Nevertheless, actively seeking out secondary help is a sign that they don't anticipate the former's eventual return solving their problems overnight. The stats support the perceived concern, with New England ranking near the bottom of the league in the following metrics:
- 31st in yards per pass attempt (9.2)
- 30th in completion percentage (74.2)
- 29th in passing yards allowed per game (256.3)
- 26th in opponent passer rating (106.8)
Note: Stats courtesy of Pro Football Reference.
Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel once led the Titans, which is another interesting element of New England's failed attempt to land Brownlee. The connection is probably more coincidental than anything, considering the two didn't overlap in Tennessee. Regardless, New England now prepares to face the 2024 fifth-round selection twice as a member of the Jets rather than adding him to their roster.