New England Patriots: 5 Things to Watch in Matchup Against Jacksonville Jaguars

#5 Battle For the Third Cornerback Spot

The Patriots made a huge splash in free agency by signing Stephon Gilmore to a five-year, $65 million contract. He’s locked in as a starter opposite Malcolm Butler, but who will step up and take over the number three role?

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Eric Rowe, who was acquired in a trade less than a week before kicking off the 2016 regular season, is one possibility. Rowe wasn’t the most consistent corner on the roster by any means last year, but he did step up in big situations.

Rowe played in over 70 percent of the defensive snaps in the postseason and his length makes him a perfect fit to match up against some of the taller receivers in the league. It was Rowe, not Butler or Logan Ryan, who was primarily tasked with shutting down Julio Jones in the Super Bowl.

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Rowe is the favorite to backup both Gilmore and Butler on the outside, but the edge in the slot goes to Jonathan Jones. Jones was an undrafted free agent last season, and like so many other players to climb the ladder under Belichick, made a name for himself on special teams. He’ll try to hold off fellow second-year player Cyrus Jones and three-year veteran Justin Coleman.