The Patriots signed safety Adrian Phillips to a two-year contract worth $3.5 million. He spent the last six seasons with the Los Angeles (formerly San Diego) Chargers.
Phillips signed with the Chargers originally as an undrafted free agent in 2014 following his college career with the Texas Longhorns, and his journey hasn’t been easy. In his first two seasons, Phillips was either released or waived eight times.
At, 28 years old, Phillips should be in the middle of his athletic prime and will get to experience those years with the Patriots. Bill Belichick, Steve Belichick, and Jerod Mayo should be getting a player who can contribute immediately.
Before he steps onto the field with New England, here’s what fans should know about their newest defensive back.
Phillips was placed on IR in 2019.
With Derwin James on injured reserve with a stress fracture in his foot, Phillips was set to be the starting strong safety opposite Rayshawn Jenkins. However, in the second week of the season, Phillips broke his arm and landed on the IR himself.
This cost the safety nine weeks of the regular season, and even after he returned in Week 12, he never truly saw full-time reps until the final game of the year. The good news is that the injury should not hamper his play later in career, and he should be all set by the time this season rolls around.
Phillips’ best season was 2018.
Prior to his injury-shortened 2019 campaign, Phillips was among the league’s best. In 2018, he was named to the Pro-Bowl and the All-Pro First-team both for his special teams ability. Despite not being named on the public fan ballot as a special teamer, Phillips received write-in votes as well as nods from his peers and coaches.
He finished 2018 with 94 total tackles. This came in the same season that James was drafted to basically take his starting spot at strong safety. Phillips did everything the team asked and ran all the way to the Pro Bowl with the gunner role.
Phillips seems to be a perfect Belichick safety.
Is there a single coach that appreciates positional versatility more than Belichick? At least, there isn’t one who speaks about it as much. And, Phillips can play many different roles for Patriots.
As previously mentioned, he was an All-Pro gunner in 2018. New England currently has two of the best gunners in the league in Matthew Slater and Justin Bethel. However, adding another talented player at the position can’t hurt.
Phillips will also be able to spell Patrick Chung and get him some more rest this season. Chung will be 33 this year, and Phillips can help take some of the in-the-box safety reps of his hands.
He also has some ability to play a smaller linebacker role. The Patriots are very thin at linebacker with Elandon Roberts and Kyle Van Noy departing in free agency. Phillips can help do a little bit of everything in New England.
Phillips believes Tom Brady is the best quarterback ever.
No, Tom Brady isn’t in New England anymore, but he’ll still be looked upon fondly by the Patriots organization, players, coaches, and fans. Phillips can be added to the list of those who respect and appreciate the greatness of the Buccaneers’ new quarterback.
Phillips tweeted this at the end of the Patriots AFC Championship victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. Brady was fantastic in that game, throwing for 348 yards and keeping his team alive in clutch situations in a battle with one of the best offenses in the league.
This also came just one week after the Patriots defeated the Chargers in the Divisional Round, 41-28. Phillips witnessed Brady’s ability first hand that day and appears to respect him just as much as Patriots fans do.
