In Orlando, Florida, the New England Patriots are facing the departure of their premier slot cornerback. Myles Bryant, at the age of 26, has inked a deal with the Houston Texans, as reported by Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston. Bryant, who joined the Patriots as an undrafted free agent, rose through the ranks to become the team’s leading inside cornerback. His performance last season was outstanding, recording a personal best of 77 tackles, alongside an interception, six pass deflections, and two forced fumbles.
Over the last two seasons, Bryant has been a pivotal figure for the Patriots. In the previous year, he was on the field for 74.8% of the team’s defensive plays, making him the fourth most utilized defensive player in New England. Only Kyles Dugger, Ja’Whaun Bentley, and Jabrill Peppers saw more action.
Bryant’s journey with the Patriots began in 2020 when he made the team as an undrafted free agent. Initially signing with the practice squad, he was soon promoted to the 53-man roster. By 2021, following an injury to Jonathan Jones that ended his season, Bryant stepped up as the team’s primary inside cornerback. The following year saw Jones shift to an outside position, allowing Bryant to outperform Marcus Jones and secure the starting slot cornerback spot.
In 2022, Bryant continued to impress with 70 tackles and an interception. He once again surpassed Marcus Jones to retain his position as the team’s top slot cornerback during the last offseason. His versatility has been a significant asset to the Patriots’ secondary. Over four years, Pro Football Focus notes that Bryant has played 1,361 snaps in the slot, 293 as an outside cornerback, 231 as a free safety, 191 in the box, and 25 on the defensive line.
Additionally, Bryant took on punt return duties for the Patriots, stepping in for Marcus Jones after he sustained a season-ending injury. Last season, Bryant returned 15 punts for a total of 105 yards.
Currently, the Patriots have eight cornerbacks on their roster: Christian Gonzalez, Jonathan Jones, Marcus Jones, Alex Austin, Shaun Wade, Azizi Hearn, Isaiah Bolden, and Marco Wilson. With Bryant’s departure, Marcus Jones and Wilson are among the potential candidates to fill his role.
The Patriots might also consider exploring the free agent market for a replacement. Bringing in a veteran outside cornerback like Stephon Gilmore could indicate a strategic move, potentially positioning Jonathan Jones back into the slot.