In recent years, the New England Patriots have often struggled to address problems in their defensive secondary. After the No. 1 corner position, there have been dozens of question marks filling the remaining spots on the depth chart.

The Curious Case of Logan Ryan

But in 2015, third-year man Logan Ryan solidified himself as a viable No. 2 option at cornerback. He played primarily on the inside covering slot receivers, and set a career high with 74 tackles. Quarterbacks targeted him on a regular basis thanks to the Pro Bowl-caliber play of Malcolm Butler. Butler blanketed the opposition’s best receiver in all 16 regular season games, and played more snaps than any other player on the roster.

Now in the final year of his rookie contract, Ryan has more pressure on him than ever. Usually a player coming off his best season isn’t fighting for his job, but New England is an intense place to play. The Patriots drafted his possible replacement in Alabama’s Cyrus Jones with the 60th overall selection in April. Jones is a top prospect, and Ryan will need to outperform the athletic rookie to keep his job and ensure a sufficient payday when his contract expires at the end of the 2017 season.

Ryan vs. Jones

On the surface, Logan Ryan and Cyrus Jones are very similar players. At 5’11”, 195 pounds and 5’10”, 197 pounds, respectively, both are stout, physical defenders who are best playing up on the line. They are each able to knock the slot receiver off his route and make tackles in the open field. Each has the burst of acceleration necessary to make up for lost ground.

Both also possess similar athletic traits. Jones’ 40-yard dash time of 4.49 is just slightly swifter than Ryan’s 4.56. The former also has a half-inch on his veteran teammate in the vertical department (33” for Jones, 32.5” for Ryan). However, the Patriots see Jones as a dynamic playmaker as well as a pass defender. He returned four punts for touchdowns during his career with the Crimson Tide, and will surely see time on special teams for New England.

Money is the Motive

Now in his fourth year making a rookie salary, Logan Ryan undoubtedly has his eyes on a paycheck when 2017 NFL free agency rolls around. The veteran has made improvements in each of his first three seasons, and as the NFL becomes more and more of a passing league, solid cornerbacks are in high demand.

Despite his contributions to New England’s success, there are no guarantees that the Pats will give Ryan the money he will be looking for. Star corner Malcolm Butler is in a contract year, and is also set to cash in. Cyrus Jones signed a four-year deal worth $4 million, a million-plus more than Ryan signed for back in 2013 (four years, $2.77 million). The Patriots are known for stingy contract negotiations, and with three defensive superstars in need of contract extensions (Butler and linebackers Dont’a Hightower and Jamie Collins), the team will have decisions to make.

Conclusion

If New England won’t pay Logan Ryan, someone else surely will. And for a team that has had trouble corralling good defensive backs, some would think it is ignorant to let Ryan walk. His price may turn out to be very affordable when compared to the bigger names on the free agent market. Pending the emergence of Cyrus Jones, Ryan is still the No. 2 corner on one of the best teams in the league. If his play continues to trend upward, he will be a commodity to an NFL team going forward, inside or outside of New England.