Jalen

Mills

Mills, 30, has spent the last three seasons with the Patriots and was with the Giants in training camp earlier this year. The veteran safety is long removed from his 2017 season when he totaled 64 tackles and three interceptions for the Eagles while helping them to their first Super Bowl, but Mills can still provide valuable experience to a stout Jets secondary. Even if he is promoted from the practice squad in the coming weeks, Mills won’t be anything more than added depth on this roster.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter was the first to report that the Giants have parted ways with Mills, who was on the NFI list earlier with a calf strain. Now healthy, the veteran defensive back is expected to draw interest from teams in need of secondary help. Mills totaled 45 tackles in 17 games with the Patriots last season and made eight starts. Mills has ample experience as a starter and can provide valuable experience as an eight-year vet of the league.

Mills will head to New York to help a Giants’ defense that ranked 27th in the NFL last season. He spent his last three seasons as a Patriot where he collected 45 tackles in 2023. The team hopes Mills can bring some veteran leadership to a young Giants’ secondary.

The Patriots had released Mills two years into his four-year contract with the team. The move saved New England $5 million against the salary cap. Mills will return to New England for 2023 with what is likely an incentive-laden contract. He had two interceptions in 10 games last season. Mills has seven picks in seven NFL seasons.

The release comes two years into a four-year deal signed in 2021. Mills missed seven games to injury last year, but was productive when healthy, recording two interceptions in 10 games. There was talk that Mills could be an option to replace retired FS Devin McCourty but the Patriots are taking the cap savings and moving on. Releasing Mills clears $4.9 million for the Patriots while leaving $1.3 million in dead money.

New England will be without key defenders Mills and Jones in their matchup against Teddy Bridgewater and Miami’s terrifying wideout duo of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Parker (concussion) will miss another game. His absence should lead to more snaps and pass routes for Kendrick Bourne, who in Week 16 caught six passes for 100 yards and a score. Bourne is a reasonable WR3/4 option for Week 17.

The Patriots will be without Mills, who was placed on the COVID list Tuesday, for the first round of the playoffs. It leaves New England down to Myles Bryant and Joejuan Williams behind J.C. Jackson, likely leading to more three safety packages. Patriots safeties Adrian Phillips (knee) and Kyle Dugger (hand) are listed as questionable but expected to play.

The deal includes $9 million in guarantees. Bill Belichick has been more active than anyone in free agency, and Mills is the latest piece. After four years on inconsistent play at outside corner, the Eagles gave Mills more snaps at strong safety (32%) and free safety (23%) in 2020. He’s a quality scheme fit in New England, where Belichick orchestrates a lot of man and man-match coverage. Mills played a lot of man coverage with the Eagles recently. It’s unclear if Mills will play on the perimeter, in the slot, or continue playing more snaps at safety.

Mills will miss Sunday’s finale against the Football Team even if he is merely a “close contact.” Re-signed as a safety last March, Mills saved the Eagles’ bacon at corner in Week 16 after UDFA Michael Jaquet got ruthlessly exposed by the Cowboys. 26-year-old Mills also spent plenty of time in the slot this season, having a nice overall campaign. He is headed back to free agency at season’s end.

ESPN’s Josina Anderson reports part of Mills’ deal will be a move to safety, though NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo believes it will be a “hybrid role” between corner and safety. The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane believes it could spell the end of Malcolm Jenkins’ time in Philadelphia. Mills has been limited to 17 appearances by injury over the past two seasons, and he was not effective on the outside when healthy in 2019.