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Patriots young cornerback not tendered, heads to free agency
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- Patriots young cornerback not tendered, heads to free agency
The Patriots are moving on from a young cornerback.
On Wednesday, the team informed Alex Austin that they won’t tender him a contract as a restricted free agent. That means the backup cornerback/core special teamer will become an unrestricted free agent next week.
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NFL Insider Jordan Schultz first reported the news, which Austin confirmed on his social media account.
“Forever love in New England ! God’s Plan… looking forward to what he has next,” Austin wrote .
The move isn’t a surprise. Austin started last offseason as the Patriots ’ top backup outside cornerback behind Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis . He held that role for the first four weeks of the regular season. Austin made two starts at cornerback with Gonzalez out with a hamstring injury.
The 24-year-old played 144 defensive snaps through the Patriots ’ first four games.
After that, however, Charles Woods took over as the Patriots’ top backup cornerback. Austin didn’t play another snap on defense. He was a core special teamer, appearing on that side of the ball for playing eight regular-season and three playoff games.
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Austin also missed the last five weeks of the regular season due to a hand/wrist injury. He came off the injured reserve for the playoff run. He finished with 13 tackles and a pass breakup last season.
Austin signed with the Patriots during the tail end of the 2023 NFL season. He played in five games, making one start. Austin nabbed the first interception of his career off Josh Allen in Week 17.
In 2024, Austin was the Patriots’ top backup cornerback, but landed on the injured reserve in Week 4. He finished that year with nine tackles and five pass breakups in nine games.
The Patriots return seven cornerbacks from last season: Gonzalez, Davis, Marcus Jones , Woods, Kobee Minor , Marcellas Dial, and Brandon Crossley.
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As a restricted free agent, the Patriots had the option to to tender Austin a contract. Had the Patriots tendered him, another team could have signed Austin to an offer sheet, which New England would then have had the option to match. If the Patriots declined to match, Austin would have departed for that team
Instead, the young cornerback will hit free agency next week, which starts on Monday.
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