Patriots Preference: Top CB Prospect Eyeing New England in NFL Draft

South Carolina star Cam Smith sees himself as a perfect fit in New England's defensive system.

While the New England Patriots' offense is the squeaky wheel getting all the repairs this offseason, their defense is instead attracting admirers.

The Pats' offense was abysmal in 2022, scoring 17 fewer touchdowns than the previous season. That woeful performance - accentuated by bland play-caller Matt Patricia, player complaints and a brief quarterback controversy between Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe - overshadowed a defensive unit that played at a Super-Bowl level.

New England's dominant play - and time-tested system - is not lost on someone who would like to play for it next season: South Carolina cornerback Cam Smith. One of the top prospects in April's NFL Draft, Smith said this week he could see himself fitting in with a defense that in recent years has spawned the likes of Jonathan Jones, Malcolm Butler, Stephon Gilmore and J.C. Jackson.

“I see a lot of the man-to-man teams, like the Patriots,” Smith told the Bleav Network this week. “I seen how they did (it) with J.C. Jackson. How they just let him play man-to-man and just be on his island and stuff like that. So, teams like that, really, I would like that.”

Pro Football Focus ranks the 6-foot, 190-pound Smith as the third-best cornerback in the draft. At South Carolina the last three seasons he intercepted six passes and deflected 24 more. ESPN's latest mock draft has Smith falling to the middle of the second round. The Pats own the 46th overall pick.

New England’s secondary had to endure a number of injuries to key players throughout the year, especially at cornerback.

With Jalen Mills missing seven games due to a groin injury, Jonathan Jones inherited the duties as the team’s top perimeter corner. The former slot specialist tied for the team lead in interceptions (alongside safety Devin McCourty) with four. Rookie cornerbacks Jack Jones and Marcus Jones showed enough prowess to indicate a bright future at the position, each grabbing a pair of interceptions respectively. Myles Bryant played in all 17 games, taking 61 percent of the Pats defensive snaps, primarily out of the slot.

“I’m not shying away from no zone teams either," Smith added. "No teams that run a lot of cover three and stuff like that. I can play that regardless. I feel like with my stature, I feel like I should be in somebody’s face.”

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