After the New England Patriots made a series of roster transactions on Tuesday, just days ahead of the Nov. 4 trading deadline, the depth at safety became too thin to move forward without addressing, as only three players capable of playing that spot remained on the active roster.
With only starters Jaylinn Hawkins, rookie Craig Woodson, and backup Dell Pettus left on the 53-man, the Patriots needed to add another safety after they finally traded veteran Kyle Dugger, which seemed to be inevitable with the new coaching regime of Mike Vrabel and his staff.
In doing so, the Patriots signed Miami Dolphins practice squad safety John Saunders Jr., filling one of the open roster spots, less than one hour after trading Dugger. The rookie was not selected in this past year's NFL draft before signing with the Dolphins two weeks afterwards.
Patriots Sign Safety They Had A Pre-Draft Visit With After Dugger Trade
After the preseason, Saunders Jr. was waived by Miami but was quickly signed back to their practice squad just two weeks before the start of the regular season. While he didn't show enough to make the final roster in South Beach out of training camp, Saunders Jr. clearly had piqued the interest of the coaching staff enough that Mike McDaniel and company wanted to sneak him onto their practice squad.
This begs the question. What makes Saunders Jr. so appealing to Vrabel for him to sign the rookie to the 53-man roster just one week ahead of the trade deadline?
To start, the Patriots have long been interested in Saunders Jr., having brought him in for a pre-draft visit during the offseason. The front office and coaching staff have already put the necessary time into scouting him and using resources to evaluate how well he'd fit in their defensive system.
Vrabel has a prototypical standard for the defensive backs he uses in his system by prioritizing taller players in the secondary. Patriots fans have already seen Vrabel change the personnel accordingly this season to fit that model. And at 6’2”, 209 lbs., Saunders Jr. has the architect for what Vrabel is building with the defensive backs.
- Christian Gonzalez (6’1”)
- Carlton Davis (6’1”)
- Alex Austin (6’1”)
- Jaylinn Hawkins (6’1”)
- Craig Woodson (6’0”)
The former Ole Miss Rebels standout is versatile, can play in multiple positions, and can stretch the field with his length. He’s already the tallest cornerback on the roster, and with being the same height as Brenden Schooler, he’s also the tallest safety on the roster.
Saunders Jr. possesses the type of physicality and ability to force turnovers that Vrabel prioritizes when seeking out players who align with the principles of his defensive system.
Another important aspect of New England's signing of Saunders Jr. is the possibility that he'll be capable of leveling up and defending the tight end position, which the Patriots have struggled with this season.
Although Saunders Jr. was needed for depth at the safety position, there could legitimately be a role for him in this defense that has experienced injuries with their entire secondary this season.