Report: Jalen Mills returning to Patriots ... to play safety
BOSTON -- Last week, Jalen Mills was released by the Patriots, another cut from the big-money 2021 free-agent class. Or so we thought. As it turns out, he's not going anywhere at all.
Mills is returning to the Patriots on a revised deal. The Score's Jordan Schultz first reported the news, noting that Mills will be switching from cornerback to safety.
Jalen Mills is re-signing with the #Patriots, sources tell @theScore.
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) March 22, 2023
The day after his official release, Mills accepts an offer to return. I’m also told he plans to go back to safety next season.
In 2020 w/the #Eagles, Mills had 74 tackles, 4 TFLs, 1.5 sacks and 1 INT at FS. pic.twitter.com/rYWRP38VH4
ESPN's Mike Reiss and the Boston Herald's Karen Guregian later reported that Mills was never released at all. Instead, the two sides have restructured Mills' deal, which is now for one year and up to $3.1 million. Mills will become a free agent after the 2023 season.
The 28-year-old Mills played safety for the Eagles in 2020, after spending his first four seasons as a cornerback. Last week, he tweeted out a reminder of that fact:
Y’all know I really play safety right?.
— Jalen Mills (@greengoblin) March 13, 2023
He then followed that one up with a clarification:
Y’all know I’m really a hybrid right?.
— Jalen Mills (@greengoblin) March 13, 2023
He returned to the cornerback position after signing with the Patriots in 2021, but now with Devin McCourty retired, the Patriots must view Mills as a potential replacement on the back end of the defense.