The Patriots have a Pro Bowl-level safety in Kyle Dugger and steady veteran Adrian Phillips. Longtime standout Devin McCourty is debating retirement after another solid season.
Jabrill Peppers, added last offseason, had a productive season playing a bunch in the box in run support in sub defenses. Veteran Cody Davis is strictly a special-teamer. Joshuah Bledsoe, a sixth-rounder in 2021, got into three games last year.
Bright spots
Dugger is a difference-maker. Pro Football Focus had him 11th out of 99 safeties in overall rankling. A second-rounder in 2020 from Lenoir-Rhyne, he’s been one of the better selections the team’s made in the past 10 drafts.