The New England Patriots did a whole lot of work on their defense this offseason, utilizing their massive cap space to address some very prominent needs.
However, the Patriots already had some rather impressive young defenders on their roster, and one of them is cornerback Alex Austin.
Austin's playing time in 2025 was brief, as he appeared in nine games and made three starts. During that time, he logged nine tackles and five passes defended, displaying some very interesting potential in coverage. But just how important a piece is Austin moving forward?
Well, Bernd Buchmasser and Taylor Kyles of Pats Pulpit have gone as far to declare Austin the "next man up" at the cornerback position for New England, which currently has Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis locked in as the two sure-fire starters.