The New England Patriots had a very busy Tuesday night indeed. The frenzy began with the trade of 2023 second-round draft pick Keion White to the San Francisco 49ers. Then, just 39 minutes later, the team sent 2020 second-round draft pick Kyle Dugger to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
As the dust settles on these two major trades, the Patriots are now faced with two holes in their roster that need to be filled. The team decided to address their most glaring need: safety depth.
According to Patriots insider Mike Reiss, “The Patriots are planning to sign rookie safety John Saunders Jr. off the Dolphins practice squad to fill a spot on their 53-man roster.” Saunders, standing 6-foot-2 and weighing 211 pounds, played at Mississippi in 2024, where he led the SEC in turnovers with 3 interceptions and 4 forced fumbles last season. Despite his impressive stats, Saunders went undrafted.
With Dugger gone, the Patriots’ active roster is now down to just three safeties: starters Jaylinn Hawkins and Craig Woodson, and backup Dell Pettus. Saunders could prove to be a hidden gem. Reiss notes that Saunders has been on the Patriots’ radar for some time.
“Patriots had the 24-year-old Saunders in for a pre-draft visit, which reflects how he had been in their scouting process,” Reiss explained. “Saunders’ versatility to play multiple roles likely appealed to them, especially considering the new defensive scheme under Mike Vrabel, Terrell Williams, and Zak Kuhr.”
Originally from High Point, North Carolina, Saunders attended Miami (Ohio) University for three seasons before transferring to Mississippi in 2023. The Ole Miss alum is expected to contribute immediately for the Patriots’ 6-2 defense.
John Saunders has shown impressive ball skills throughout his college career. He recorded multiple interceptions in every year he played, except his redshirt freshman season. In three of his four active seasons, he tallied three interceptions.
After making a roster spot in the pros, Saunders made a notable impact in a preseason game by intercepting a pass and returning it 51 yards. Following that performance, the then 23-year-old had this to say to reporters [quote to be inserted if available].
With his range and playmaking ability, John Saunders could be a valuable addition to the Patriots’ secondary as they look to reinforce their defense moving forward.
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