Patriots Cut CB Jalen Mills; Who Starts in 2023?

The New England Patriots are releasing veteran cornerback Jalen Mills, saving them money under the salary cap and opening the door for another Jones starter at cornerback.

The New England Patriots' defense had 19 interceptions last season. They'll open the 2023 offseason with players responsible for 31 percent of those picks no longer on the roster.

A few days after veteran safety Devin McCourty announced his retirement, the Pats Friday morning reportedly are cutting starting cornerback Jalen Mills. McCourty led New England with six interceptions last season; Mills tied for third on the team with two.

A year after letting cornerback J.C. Jackson walk in free agency, the Patriots are shoving Mills out the door because of a plethora of young talent in the secondary. They re-signed burgeoning star Jonathan Jones in free agency, tendered a contract offer to Myles Bryant and also boast promising second-year players Jack and Marcus Jones.

Led by the pass rush of Matthew Judon and Josh Uche and the ball-hawking secondary of McCourty and Kyle Dugger, the Patriots scored seven defensive touchdowns and finished among the NFL's Top 10 units.

Mills, 28, signed a four-year, $24 million contract in March of 2021. He played in 26 of 35 games over the last two seasons in Foxboro. Last season he started 10 games, but was slowly being phased out by the playmaking and explosiveness of the trio of Joneses. He started his career with the Philadelphia Eagles. In 89 career games with 75 starts, Mills has recorded 52 passes defensed and seven interceptions.

Releasing Mills will save the Patriots approximately $5 million against the salary cap.

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