Patriots Sign Ex Chargers Safety

The New England Patriots have added free agent safety Jaylinn Hawkins to a defensive backfield which was in need of some depth heading into the upcoming NFL Season.

FOXBORO — The New England Patriots have added some veteran help to their defensive backfield for the upcoming season. 

The Pats, per a Thursday morning NFL Network report, are signing former Atlanta Falcons safety Jaylinn Hawkins. The 26-year-old spent last season with the Los Angeles Chargers. 

Hawkins’ contract, per ESPN’s Mike Reiss, is a one-year deal qualifies for the veteran salary benefit. Assuming Hawkins makes the team, he is expected to be paid a base salary based on his credited seasons (four), but count less against the salary cap.

Having played four collegiate seasons (and one redshirt year) with the California Golden Bears, Hawkins was selected No. 134 overall by the Falcons in the fourth-round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He arguably entered the collective consciousness of the NFL universe during Atlanta’s Week 6 of the 2022 season against the San Francisco 49ers when he recovered a fumble in the end zone for his first career touchdown. He also recorded an interception in the same game. 

Cred: Jonathan Hui - USA TODAY Sports

During his three seasons with the Falcons, he recorded 121 total tackles, nine passes-defensed, four interceptions, while making 22 starts in 48 games played. 

After being waived by Atlanta last October, the 6-1, 208-pound safety was claimed by the Chargers. He played in 10 games for the Bolts, making three starts. However, his production was limited to only one pass-breakup, while assisting on seven tackles. 

Last season, Patriots safeties Kyle Dugger and Jabrill Peppers formed one of the top defensive backfield tandems in the NFL, routinely leading the team in snaps taken on defense. Peppers put up Pro Bowl-worthy numbers, finishing the year with 78 total tackles, eight passes-defensed, one sack and one interception — as well as a forced fumble and a recovery. Dugger led all defensive backs with 109 total tackles, while also compiling seven passes-defensed, two interceptions and 1.5 sacks. Jalen Mills settles into the third spot along the depth chart, earning 45 total tackles and a forced fumble. Lastly, Adrian Phillips continued to play an elder-statesman, advisory type role, despite a drastic reduction in his defensive snap counts. 

Should Patriots Sign Stephon Gilmore as Christian Gonzalez Mentor?

Following Phillips’ release and Mills signing a free agent deal with the New York Giants, the Pats are a bit thin at the position. Despite applying the transition tag to Dugger, the Pats still run the slight risk of losing their top safety to an offer sheet they are unwilling to match. Beyond Peppers, the Pats have only third-year defensive back Joshuah Bledsoe and special teams ace Brendan Schooler under contract for 2024. 

Accordingly, New England is expected to address the position in the mid-to-late rounds in next month’s NFL Draft. 

---