Patriots 2021 defensive backfield playbook: Who stays, who goes

New England Patriots Cornerback JoeJuan Williams

Unfortunately, like so many Patriots second-round defensive backs selected in the past, Williams has been a bust to-date.

He has logged only 23 tackles, no interceptions, and no starts in his first two (and maybe last two?) seasons in New England. He has to be termed a flop at this point.

Williams was a second-round draft pick. Because of that fact, he’ll likely remain with the club for another year, deservedly or not.

As one who has questioned the efficacy of New England’s personnel operation for quite some time, the Williams case is amongst the many draft failures that have cost the team dearly.

All of those draft failures over the years signify that personnel mismanagement has cost the team games. And, likely Super Bowl wins, as well, while they were manned by the current quarterback of Tampa Bay.

This author has written only partially tongue-in-cheek that the Patriots should deal all of their top picks in this season’s draft (maybe in every draft to get one great player) to move up to get a young quarterback who will lead the team in the future.

This club drafts atrociously in any high round much of the time. Why not roll the dice for the best quarterback attainable (give up three first-round picks plus if necessary if they can get one of the best) and stock up on late-rounds picks.

Therein, as in the undrafted free agency, they seem to be able to find diamonds in the rough (Michael Onwenu, in last year’s sixth-round) regularly. Roll the dice on a quarterback and fill in later. They can’t do any worse.

Williams goes if they can get some lower round picks for him. (Likely, he says because he was a second-round pick and would further embarrass the team if traded.)