It seems as if Mike Vrabel, Eliot Wolf and the rest of the New England Patriots braintrust is turning over every rock in order to improve the roster.
And while cornerback might not seem like a huge area for improvement, at least assuming Christian Gonzalez is nearing a return, the Patriots reportedly were in the market for an upgrade. NFL Jordan Schultz reported New England had called the Tennessee Titans about cornerback Jarvis Brownlee before the Titans traded him to New England’s divisional rival, the New York Jets.
Jets Beat Out Patriots for Titans CB With Upside
Just how much interest the Patriots had is unknown, but there’s certainly evidence that it wasn’t a major priority. Look no further than the price. New York acquired Brownlee (and a seventh-round pick) in exchange for a sixth-round pick. All of those selections are in the 2026 draft.
Brownlee, a fifth-round pick last year out of Louisville, has plenty of upside. He’s a strong tackler, who already has 11 solo tackles through three games to go along with a pass defended. In his rookie season, he made 46 solo tackles, had an interception, recovered a fumble and defended nine passes.
On the surface, he looks like a solid pickup for a Jets team — who, like the Patriots — is trying to get even tougher under a first-year head coach in Aaron Glenn.
“Brownlee has been a success story considering his draft position. With his experience and nearly three cheap years remaining on his rookie contract, I’m surprised the Jets got him for so little,” ESPN’s Seth Walder wrote after the deal went down.
The key for the Jets is going to be harnessing his energy and aggression. As ESPN’s Rich Cimini pointed out, there have been 11 accepted penalties called on Brownlee in just two years. The “Play Like a Jet” social media account cited a source who relayed similar information.
“Talented guy who just couldn’t stop committing penalties,” the source told the account. “He had 9 last (year) and 3 this (year). Sense I get is the coaching staff just got tired of trying to fix the issue.”
Perhaps getting him in Glenn, a former defensive back himself, will help fix the issue.
Is Trade Interest Sign Patriots Feel Need for CB Depth?
As for the Patriots, their reported interest in adding cornerback depth could be significant, especially if there’s any connection to the lingering Gonzalez injury. The former first-round pick has missed all three games and only just returned to practice last week for the first time since suffering a hamstring injury in July.
Gonzalez returned to practice ahead of the Patriots‘ Week 3 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and spoke to the media on Wednesday of that week, leading to optimism about his status. However, New England ruled him out a couple of days before the game, and now, the hope is he can make his season debut in Week 4 against Carolina.
The Patriots defense has been a mixed bag through three weeks. Despite the offense turning the ball over five times against the Steelers, the New England only allowed 21 points to the Aaron Rodgers-led Pittsburgh offense. That said, the Patriots have allowed an opponent passer rating of 106.8 through their first three games. Only six teams — including the Jets — have been worse.
Patriots Reportedly Called About Titans CB Before Trade to Hated Rival