The New England Patriots are adding to their safety room.
Acorrding to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, the Patriots are signing ex-Chargers safety Jaylinn Hawkins to a one-year contract.
Hawkins, 26, has played with the Los Angeles Chargers and Atlanta Falcons during his NFL career. He entered the league as a fourth-round pick out of California in 2020. Hawkins spent three seasons with the Falcons before the team released him in October. After he was waived, the Chargers claimed the safety.
The 6-foot-1, 208-pound safety had his best season in 2022. recording 84 tackles, six pass deflections, and a forced fumble while starting 16 games.
However, last season, he was primarily used on special teams, with the Chargers utilizing him as a rotational/depth piece. In 2023, Hawkins played in six games for the Falcons and ten games for the Chargers, tallying 14 combined tackles and one pass defended.
In his career, Hawkins had registered 135 total tackles, four interceptions, and a fumble return for a touchdown.
Earlier in the off-season, the Patriots waived Jalen Mills and Adrain Phillps, so there was an expectation that the team would sign another safety. Although, it’s important to note Hawkins has more experience as a free safety.
Hawkins joins Jabrill Peppers, Kyle Dugger, Marte Mapu, Joshuah Bledsoe, and Brenden Schooler on the safety depth chart.
My name is Ben Belford-Peltzman and I am the creator and writer of The Patriots Beat. I am a 17-year kid who is an optimistic pessimist about the City of Champions. I started The Patriots Beat in August of 2022 and never expected to grow so much but here we are. Feel free to email Thepatriotsbeat@gmail.com with any inquires.
