Pats Pulpit
The New England Patriots’ safety group experienced some major turnover in the first year under head coach Mike Vrabel. But while the departures of long-time starters Kyle Dugger and Jabrill Peppers as well as the addition of fourth-round draft pick Craig Woodson stood out, they were not the only notable moves made by the club at the position in 2025.
The Patriots also opted to sign another safety from a rival’s practice squad. Now entering his second season in the NFL, and first full year in New England, John Saunders Jr. will be fighting for a spot on the team this summer.
Name: John Saunders Jr.
Position: Safety
Jersey number: 23 (b)
Opening day age: 24 (10/24/2001)
Measurements: 6’2 3/8”, 211 lbs, 32 1/8” arm length, 77 1/2” wingspan, 9 3/8” hand size, 4.57s 40-yard dash, 6.81s 3-cone drill, 4.32s short shuttle, 37” vertical jump, 10’6” broad jump, 14 bench press reps, 8.60 Relative Athletic Score
NFL: Miami Dolphins (2025), England Patriots (2025-) | College: Miami (OH) (2020-22), Ole Miss (2023-24)
A two-way standout, Saunders Jr.finished his senior year at High Point Christian in High Point, NC, with 900 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns as well as six interceptions. The three-star cornerback prospect turned his production into a scholarship offer from Miami University, where he spent three seasons and appeared in 22 games with 15 starts and five interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown.
However, ahead of the RedHawks’ bowl game in December 2022, Saunders Jr. entered the transfer portal. Rated as a four-star transfer, he joined Ole Miss less than three weeks later, and finished his college career with the Rebels.
His change of college came with a change of position: previously a cornerback, Saunders Jr. moved to safety. He flourished in what ended up being a multi-positional role that saw him line up all over the formation. Starting all 26 games over his two seasons in the SEC, he added six more interceptions and f0ur forced fumbles to his college résumé.
Even though he progressed nicely throughout his college career, Saunders Jr. did not hear his name called in the 2025 NFL Draft. He started out with the Dolphins and later joined the Patriots, and is still waiting for his first NFL game action.
Strengths: Standing at 6-foot-2 with long arms, Saunders Jr. has good size for the safety position. He combines it with some burst and quickness as well as proper play diagnosis skills; he is comfortable in his reads and commits to them without much hesitation. He also has shown a knack for the football, registering 11 interceptions and five forced fumbles during his college career. His receiver background shines through repeatedly, allowing him to make plays on the ball and be competitive in contested catch situations; he times his jumps and turn-arounds well and has natural hands. He also offers good versatility and has experience playing multiple spots in the secondary.
Weaknesses: Saunders Jr. is not...
