In addition to Kyle Dugger and Jabrill Peppers, the Patriots are bringing in additional depth at safety with experience. Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets that Jaylinn Hawkins is joining Jerod Mayo’s squad.
Hawkins, a former Falcons full-time starter, seems destined to be Dugger and Peppers’ backup in New England. The contract he is signing is for a year, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com says. Hawkins, 26, divided his 2017 season between Los Angeles and Atlanta.
With the signing of Jessie Bates and their combo of Ricardo Allen and Keanu Neal, the Falcons went to Hawkins as a full-time starter for a season. In 2022, they made use of the previous fourth-round pick as a 16-game starter with Richie Grant; however, the 2023 Hawkins were demoted as a result of Bates’ signing on a $16MM contract. Hawkins was discarded by the Falcons in October before the Chargers made a claim.
The Cal product forced a turnover, had 84 tackles in the 22nd season, and intercepted four passes between 2021 and 2022. Hawkins was ranked just outside of the top 60 by Pro Football Focus that season, which caused Atlanta to move Bates under DC Ryan Nielsen, a one-and-done player. Last season, Hawkins started three games for the Chargers.
Adrian Phillips, a multiyear contributor, was let go by the Patriots as they made room for Mayo and DC DeMarcus Covington. Dugger was given the transition tag, but no offer sheet has materialized. Peppers is bound to a $9MM, two-year deal that ends after the 2024 campaign.
