4 Patriots Still on Thin Ice Despite Win Over Steelers

3. Jalen Mills

Jalen Mills inked a four-year, $24 million contract with the Patriots in March 2021, and was a mainstay in the Patriots secondary during his first two seasons in New England.

Mills was on the field for 89% of the Patriots defensive snaps in his first season in 2021, and 75% of last season. His playing time has fallen off this season, as he has only been on the field for 32% of the team's defensive plays this year. He didn't exactly help his own cause either when he took to Twitter to complain about his snaps following the Patriots Week 5.

The team clearly isn't sold on him in a Patriots uniform either, as evident when the team released him in March and re-signed him five days later.

When Mills was re-signed, there was speculation that he could transition from corner to safety, but the emergence of Kyle Dugger and Jabrill Peppers at the safety positions have been one of the Patriots' few bright spots this season, leaving Mills to warm the bench.

Mills will be a free agent after this season and turns 30 in April, so it would be surprising to see him back in a Patriots uniform in 2024.