Jalen Mills arrival in New England gives Bill Belichick and the Patriots defense a versatile player to move around the secondary.
With training camp for the 2021 NFL season underway and games just around the corner, it’s time to take a look at some of the new faces wearing a Patriots uniform. Bill Belichick embarked on a spending spree to restock the talent of the team. Jonnu Smith, Matt Judon, and Hunter Henry all signed the dotted line. They wanted to play in New England and for Belichick.
However, you’d be forgiven if you’ve forgotten about the defensive back that the team signed in the opening days of free agency named Jalen Mills. Mills, most recently of the Philadelphia Eagles, signed a four-year, $24 million contract back in March. And among these more established names, he may be one of the most Belichickian signings of the 2021 offseason.
Welcome to the #Patriots Jalen Mills.
Belichick isn’t playing any games this offseason. He knows what he wants and he’s striking deals quickly. Much different than his usual approach. Last season seems to have stuck with him.#GoPats #NFL #PatsNation pic.twitter.com/IgEnaUL21d
— Tyler Milliken (@tylermilliken_) March 15, 2021
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Why Versatility Matters
When constructing a roster it’s important to get the best 53 guys on the roster that you can. It’s equally important that you have the best game day actives that you can assemble as well. Only 48 players can play on any given Sunday and that carries some unique challenges with it. Injuries can make some decisions for you and your preference for philosophies on offense and defense. At the top of these considerations are depth and versatility.
What happens if player X gets injured and out for the game? Does he have a backup that I can plug in there? If the answer is “No”, then that could necessitate a shuffling of play call selection and limiting your abilities. Do I have at my disposal the ability to run all the plays that I feel I might need to on any given snap? How many roles can this player help me run effectively?
One only has to look at another Belichick favorite to get a feel for what Mills can bring to the table. In 2015, with injuries piling up in the backfield, Brandon Bolden was able to effectively perform as the backup to LeGarrette Blount. In the December win against Houston, he played 50 percent of the snaps in the offense in addition to 50 percent on special teams. This depth is crucial to allowing the Patriots time to assess injuries and make the best decisions going forward.
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Another example of the positives of having a versatile utility player is during the 2019 season. Rookie Damien Harris was inactive for much of the season and it was due to Bolden. The Patriots’ offense ran through a combination of Sony Michel, Rex Burkhead, and James White. Bolden only carried the ball 15 times but the security of having him on the game-day roster meant that they did not have to rely on an unproven rookie and sacrifice depth elsewhere on the team.
How Jalen Mills Fits
Super-utility players are rare. Mills is one of those in football. Those are guys that may not have the highest ceiling as far as talent or ability at any one position, but they are valuable in their ability to play multiple roles at an above-average level. PFF charted Mills with 200+ snaps at corner, free safety, and in the box. An additional 182 snaps as a slot corner. Not bad for a seventh-round draft pick out of LSU with only a season and a half of work.
Versatility will only take you so far though and this is the biggest knock on Mills. He has not been considered as a good player or even an average one despite all that he does. His 2018 grades were less than ideal as he played most of his snaps at the outside corner position. However, he has improved each year. And even with all the problems that the Eagles defense and team had last year he posted career highs in coverage and rushing defense grades.
I think Belichick sees this and recognizes that his defensive secondary is good but in flux. The personnel will be undergoing changes over the next season or two and having an experienced player with the ability to play all over the field will only help the team as they navigate the waters going forward. J.C. Jackson hitting free agency, Stephon Gilmore’s contract disputes, and the uncertain development of Joejuan Williams all will have a major effect upon the make-up of this unit in the future. Devin McCourty’s flirtations with retirement will leave a large hole that Mills could help to fill if that happens in the near future.
Jalen Mills recalls his first time meeting Bill Belichick.
He screamed “This is f**king coach Belichick!”
The coach didn’t flinch.
“I screamed, bro. I screamed, like, loud.”@ABC6 #GoPats @greengoblin pic.twitter.com/MqAhd2x7Vi
— Ian Steele (@IanSteeleABC6) March 22, 2021
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Written by Andrew Lykins. You can find me on Twitter at @ALykins32.