Patriots 2024 training camp preview: Christian Gonzalez headlines young cornerback group.
New England will kick off its training camp in late July, and we are previewing the event one position group at a time.
The New England Patriots’ cornerback group took several hits during the 2023 season, and somehow still managed to play competitively down the stretch. Turning the page to 2024, however, the group is in a position to rebound: several key players are set to return, with some others added to the mix as well.
The result is a group that has equal parts potential and uncertainty. If its members do live up to what they have shown in the past, though, the cornerback position could turn into a defensive strength despite a lack of household names.
Depth chart
The Patriots currently have 11 cornerbacks under contract, but they have never shied away from moving players all over the secondary if need be. Whether that approach will continue under new a head coach (Jerod Mayo) and defensive coordinator (DeMarcus Covington) remains to be seen, but there is plenty of versatility to be found.
Christian Gonzalez (0): 22 | Signed through 2026 | $3.43M cap hit
Jonathan Jones (31): 30 | Signed through 2024 | $12.57M cap hit
Marcus Jones (25 | PR): 25 | Signed through 2025 | $1.41M cap hit
Alex Austin (28): 23 | Signed through 2024 | $915k cap hit
Isaiah Bolden (29): 24 | Signed through 2026 | $815k cap hit
Marco Wilson (19): 25 | Signed through 2024 | $2.62M cap hit
Shaun Wade (26): 25 | Signed through 2024 | $1.06M cap hit
Marcellas Dial (27): 23 | Signed through 2027 | $848k cap hit
Azizi Hearn (42): 25 | Signed through 2024 | $795k cap hit
Mikey Victor (47): 24 | Signed through 2026 | $796k cap hit
Kaleb Ford-Dement (30): 24 | Signed through 2026 | $798k cap hit
The first thing that stands out about the Patriots’ cornerback group is its youth: the players under contract have an average age of 24.5 years, with Christian Gonzalez and Jonathan Jones as the bookends in that regard.
The two are also the most notable players on the list. Gonzalez looked like a future star in his four games as a first-round rookie last year, with Jones a positionally flexible veteran who offers proven starter experience both inside and outside. Alongside them, All-Pro punt returner and potential slot option Marcus Jones projects as the next man in the pecking order.
The three look like the group’s lone roster locks at the moment, with the rest competing for spots either on the 53-man roster or the practice squad.
