The New England Patriots made cornerback Terrance Mitchell one of the first signings of their 2022 free agency class. But that doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll have a major impact — let alone make the roster.
New England lost J.C. Jackson, its top cornerback, after the Los Angeles Chargers awarded him a massive deal in free agency. Mitchell arrived not long after — but it’s abundantly clear he’s not a 1-for-1 replacement. He is likely to fight his way onto the roster during training camp, where he’ll have to fight against a deep group of cornerbacks (even if the position group lacks a true No. 1 option).
So let’s dive into his contract terms and break down what they mean for Mitchell and the Patriots.
Comparable contracts?
CB Bradley Roby: $1.765M in 2022
CB Malcolm Butler: $1.74M in 2022
Mitchell: $1.69M in 2022
CB A.J. Moore: $1.67M in 2022
The hype around Butler has grown for obvious reasons. Not only was he a Super Bowl hero for the Patriots, but he was also the victim of the most infamous benching in Super Bowl history. So he’s got a drama-filled history with New England. But it’s notable that Butler and Mitchell have roughly the same cap hit — by a difference of just $50,000. Butler’s deal has plenty of incentives. Even so, guaranteed money is king in the NFL. It’s an interesting reflection of both players: New England thinks both players could make the team. The Patriots are also prepared for neither to make the team.
Why Mitchell signed it
The Patriots have a deep group of players — who may not amount to anything. Jalen Mills is a proven No. 2, but there’s reason to question whether he’ll hold up as well without Jackson in the same defensive backfield. Jonathan Jones is a great slot defender. But past that? New England has Shaun Wade, Myles Bryant, Joejuan Williams and a handful of other unproven players. And the Patriots hadn’t signed Buler prior to…
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