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Shaun Wade

Latest On Patriots’ CB Situation

June 18th, 2023 at 7:53pm CST by Ely Allen

In his rookie season, fourth-round pick Jack Jones graded out as the league’s 17th-best cornerback, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). His recent arrest is the latest of a series of off-field incidents. If the NFL hands out a punishment, the Patriots may need to figure out how to field a secondary without him.

New England was able to nab one of the draft’s best cornerback prospects in the middle of the first round in Oregon’s Christian Gonzalez. The 17th overall draft pick this year has gotten off to a hot start in New England. According to Karen Guregian of MassLive, Gonzalez is “on the fast track to get one of the starting boundary” positions at corner.

The Patriots seemingly had a desire for the upcoming season to move Jonathan Jones back to a more consistent slot role. Jones had spent the first six years of his career mostly in the slot for New England before shifting to the outside for 85 percent of his snaps last season. With Jack Jones establishing himself last year, the team could move Jonathan Jones back inside and let Jack handle boundary duties, giving the team a strong starting three.

Jack Jones was the favorite to start opposite Gonzalez, especially if Jonathan Jones were to move inside to nickelback. His arrest brings that scenario into question a bit more. After a tumultuous college career that included academic issues and another arrest, Jack Jones had trouble separating himself from that reputation after getting hit with a two-game suspension enforced by the Patriots for a violation of unspecified team rules last year. If the NFL sees this history and decides to make a statement after his most recent arrest, Jones could be facing a lengthy absence.

If Jones is forced to miss time, the Patriots luckily have another high-performing second year cornerback and, coincidentally, another Jones in Marcus Jones. Marcus made four starts as a rookie last year while playing mostly on the outside. He’s also a top return man for the Patriots, though, finishing his rookie year as a first-team All-Pro, so they might be hesitant to start him full-time on defense, as well. If they can afford to, though, he would fill in nicely during Jack Jones’s absence.

Myles Bryant is also set to contribute at cornerback for New England, both at slot and out wide, but the Patriots likely don’t want to have to rely on him starting full-time. Behind them, the team currently rosters Isaiah Bolden, Quandre Mosely, Rodney Randle, Ameer Speed, and Shaun Wade, but none of them are strong candidates to make the 53-man roster, let alone finish the offseason as a starter.

So, there you have it. If Jack Jones is forced to miss significant time due to his arrest, the Patriots have a good number of options. They can leave Jonathan Jones on the outside and count on Marcus Jones and Bryant to cover the bulk of responsibilities on the inside. They can also start Jonathan outside until bringing on a third cornerback and shift him to the slot while Marcus takes over on the outside. Or they can stick to the plan of moving Jonathan inside and give Marcus some run as a starter until Jack returns.

Ravens Trade Shaun Wade To Patriots

August 26th, 2021 at 1:05pm CST by Zachary Links

The Ravens have agreed to trade cornerback Shaun Wade to the Patriots for a seventh-round pick in 2022 and a fifth-round pick in 2023 (Twitter links via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic). The seventh-rounder is originally a Texans pick, per ESPN.com’s Jamison Hensley (on Twitter). The deal will free up space in the Ravens’ secondary while adding a once highly-touted prospect to the Pats’ unit. 

Wade was in the late first-round/early second-round conversation back in 2020. However, he chose to return to Ohio State for one more year. In hindsight, he probably regrets that decision. Wade had a rough season with the Buckeyes, including a disastrous performance in the national championship game. After DeVonta Smith went off for 12/215/3 at his expense, he tumbled all the way to the fifth-round of the 2021 draft.

It’s a low-risk move for the Patriots, who aren’t giving up much to acquire Wade and his modest contract. As the No. 160 overall pick, Wade is set to make less than $3.5MM over the next four years. This season, he’ll make just $660K in base salary with a $739K cap hit.

Wade will provide depth for the Patriots as they await word on Stephon Gilmore‘s status. He remains on the PUP list while also pushing for a better contract.

Ravens Shopping Shaun Wade, Jake Verity

August 26th, 2021 at 11:42am CST by Zachary Links

The Ravens are discussing trades involving cornerback Shaun Wade and kicker Jake Verity (Twitter link via Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic). Given the presence of Justin Tucker, Verity was facing long odds of making the team, so it’s not a shock to hear that he could be traded. Wade, on the other hand, is a 2021 fifth-round pick with promise, so it’s surprising to hear that he could be moved. 

The Ravens might not have much of a choice, given their logjam in the secondary. Wade, an Ohio State product, figures to generate a good amount of interest. He enjoyed three productive seasons with the Buckeyes, including a 2020 campaign where he compiled 34 tackles, two interceptions, and four passes defended. That earned him a long list of accolades, including the Tatum–Woodson Defensive Back of the Year award. He was also a consensus All-American and first-team All-Big Ten selection.

Had he turned pro in 2020, Wade might have been a first-round pick. However, his stock plummeted after he struggled in the national championship game. That’s when Alabama wideout DeVonta Smith went off for 12 catches, 215 yards, and three touchdowns in the first half. Combined with an underwhelming pro day, Wade was passed up by every team until the Ravens snagged him at No. 160 overall.

Verity, meanwhile, is in the midst of a solid preseason behind Tucker. There are at least a few teams who would prefer him to their current options, so the Ravens could turn the UDFA into a future draft choice.

NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/12/21

May 12th, 2021 at 7:44pm CST by Ben Levine

A summary of today’s minor draft pick signings:

Baltimore Ravens

Denver Broncos

Houston Texans

Ravens Select Ohio State CB Shaun Wade

May 1st, 2021 at 1:51pm CST by Ben Levine

Shaun Wade has finally been selected. The standout Ohio State cornerback was selected by the Ravens at No. 160.

Wade had three productive seasons with the Buckeyes, including a 2020 campaign where he compiled 34 tackles, two interceptions, and four passes defended. This performance earned him a long list of accolades, including Tatum–Woodson Defensive Back of the Year. He was also a consensus All-American and first-team All-Big Ten selection.

While the defensive back was once considered to be a potential first-round pick, a tough performance in the national championship game ruined his draft stock. Specifically, Alabama wideout DeVonta Smith had 12 passes for 215 yards and three touchdowns … in just the first half. Wade also had an underwhelming pro day, which didn’t endear himself to scouts.

“Had he come out last year, he probably would have been a first-round pick, at least in the conversation for a first-round pick,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said earlier today. “He tried to do the right thing, went back to college, just a really brutal year. I talked to several scouts and evaluators about Wade. As one said, this year’s film is really bad. The [pro day] workout is just okay. I know that the scouts on this evaluator’s team just didn’t really like him.”

Ohio State CB Shaun Wade Opts Back In; Latest On Other Big Ten Opt-Outs

September 17th, 2020 at 6:43pm CST by Sam Robinson

With the Big Ten now on track to begin its season in late October, Ohio State will have one of its top players back. Standout cornerback Shaun Wade said during an appearance on ESPN’s SportsCenter (via ESPN.com’s Field Yates, on Twitter) he changed his mind on opting out of the 2020 season. He is now set to play as a senior.

Set to follow the likes of Bradley Roby, Eli Apple, Marshon Lattimore, Gareon Conley and Jeff Okudah as an Ohio State corner to hear his name called in the first round, Wade will do so after playing a fourth Buckeyes season. He ranks as the No. 7 player on Mel Kiper Jr.’s latest 2021 big board.

Wade hired an agent but did not file any paperwork, according to ESPN.com. He is not the only one of the Big Ten opt-outs to reconsider. Ohio State offensive lineman Wyatt Davis, a potential first-round pick, also reversed course and opted back in (Twitter link).

First-round prospects Micah Parsons (linebacker, Penn State), Rondale Moore (wide receiver, Purdue), Jalen Mayfield (tackle, Michigan) and Rashod Bateman (wide receiver, Minnesota) opted out before Wade initially decided to pass on 2020. Not all are committed to skipping the season, though some still are.

Penn State coach James Franklin said the door is open for Parsons to play as a junior, according to PennLive.com, while Purdue HC Jeff Brohm intends to check on Moore’s status now that the conference timetable has changed. Bateman, however, does not plan to opt back in, according to the St. Paul Pioneer Press. The Golden Gophers standout wideout has asthma and cited health concerns as a reason he will skip the COVID-19-altered season to prepare for the draft. Despite playing just one full season with the Wolverines, Mayfield plans to stick with his decision to bypass his junior season, per the Detroit Free Press.

Ohio State’s Shaun Wade Opts Out

September 14th, 2020 at 6:20pm CST by Zachary Links

Ohio State’s Shaun Wade has opted out of the upcoming season (Twitter link). The cornerback is widely projected to be a Top 10 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and he’ll get an early jump on preparing for the combine. 

[RELATED: Trevor Lawrence To Enter Draft After 2020 Season]

“This has been an extremely difficult decision to make, but I know it’s the right decision for me. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and uncertainty surrounding our season I have decided to forgo my remaining eligibility and officially declare for the 2021 NFL draft,” Wade said. “I am forever grateful to Buckeye Nation and looking forward to the next chapter.”

Of course, it remains to be seen whether the Big Ten will go ahead with its season, though it’s expected that the conference will forge ahead with an announcement in the coming days. For Wade, the risk of COVID-19 coupled with the ever-present injury risk didn’t add up.

In April, Wade will likely become the 15th Ohio State cornerback in NFL history to hear his name called in the first round. Earlier this year, Jeff Okudah became the 14th CB to go in Round 1 when the Lions tapped him at No. 3 overall. Other recent first-round Buckeyes include Denzel Ward, Marshon Lattimore, Gareon Conley, Eli Apple, Bradley Roby, and Malcolm Jenkins.