In the previous edition of our New England Patriots 2010s All-Decade team, we revealed our selections for the offense. Now it’s time to find out which players made the cut on the other side of the ball as well as on special teams.
New England Patriots 2010s All-Decade Team: Defense / Special Teams
Defensive End: Chandler Jones
Jones is a pass-rushing monster. In his four seasons with the Patriots, the first-round pick from Syracuse amassed 36 sacks, an impressive feat. His combination of speed and size makes him incredibly hard to get a hold of, and that resulted in a lot of production for the team. The one knock on him was that he was not very consistent, and he would go on long cold streaks, most notably in the playoffs. He was traded to the Arizona Cardinals after the 2015 season and has added a whopping 60 sacks to his career total.
Defensive End: Trey Flowers
This was a tossup between him and Rob Ninkovich, but Flowers ultimately made the list. In his final three seasons with New England, the well-rounded pass rusher totaled 21 sacks and was an anchor of an otherwise weak pass rush. Flowers was incredibly good against both the run and pass and in 2018 he had a fantastic 89.7 PFF grade. The biggest moment of his career was when he sacked Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan to kick them out of field goal range and set up Brady for a game-tying touchdown drive in Super Bowl LI. Nicknamed “Technique,” Flowers was one of the most consistent players on the Patriots D. He would sign with the Detroit Lions after winning Super Bowl LIII, ending his time in New England.
Honorable Mentions: Rob Ninkovich, Jabaal Sheard
Defensive Tackle: Vince Wilfork
Big Vince was a fan favorite across the NFL. His width was unmatched, yet he moved so gracefully. The first-round pick from 2004 was not at his peak in the 2010s, but he was still good enough to make this list. His best on-field moment was his performance against the Baltimore Ravens in the 2011 AFC championship game, leading a struggling defense to a strong performance and ultimately a win. After winning the Super Bowl in 2014, he left the Patriots having won it all in his first and last season as a part of the team. He had two solid seasons left with Houston before he called it a wonderful career.
Defensive Tackle: Malcom Brown
One of the more underrated players on this list, the first-rounder from Texas was a fairly consistent performer throughout the years. Unfortunately, he struggled in his final year with the team, and the Patriots let him walk in free agency. Still, he produced 105 defensive stops (tackles that constituted a failure for the offense) and was very good against the run. There is not much to say about a decent interior lineman, but he was solid.
Outside Linebacker: Jamie Collins
There are a plethora of options from the Patriots linebackers, but Collins was my first choice. He had all the potential in the world, and for the most part, he utilized it. First and foremost, Collins is an athlete, a freakishly good one. His broad jump at the Combine was incredible, and his skills translated onto the field. In 2015, he started hurdling long snappers with ease in an attempt to block extra points. He was second-team All-Pro that year and was a dynamic playmaker on the defensive side of the ball.
His play was not without flaws, however. Midway through 2016, Belichick shipped him to the Cleveland Browns for a third-round pick. His tendency to freelance upset the coach, and he decided he didn’t want him on the team anymore. Additionally, Collins wanted “Von Miller money,” hence Belichick’s desire to part ways. Collins returned in 2019, and had a fantastic start in his second stint with the team. He has slowed down a bit recently, but he has still been a fun player to have back.
Middle Linebacker: Brandon Spikes
As the story goes, Spikes was very upset that he had not made the Pro Bowl. He was moping in the locker room, and Brady was having none of it. Brady walked up to Spikes and said “Hey B, you think I play this s*** to go to Pro Bowls? Get it together. Get your head up. We’re trying to wins rings. That’s what it is here.” While it ultimately didn’t matter, Spikes was right in being indignant. He was a great player and should have made the Pro Bowl. His tackling was always some of the best in the league, and he was a dynamic traditional linebacker.
Middle Linebacker: Jerod Mayo
Trading future Hall of Famer Richard Seymour to the Oakland Raiders might have ruffled some feathers, but it was worth it. In return, the Patriots got the 10th overall pick and used it to draft Mayo. Even though injuries slowed down the athletic linebacker’s career, he was a fantastic player in his prime. Despite retiring in 2015, Mayo leads the Patriots linebacking corps in tackles since 2010. He has returned to the team as a defensive coordinator, and he has had a strong role in the resurgence of the Patriots defense.
Outside Linebacker: Dont’a Hightower
Hightower has been a monster in New England. From 2012-2016, the first-rounder from Bama dominated the league. The pinnacle of his career was when he strip-sacked Matt Ryan in Super Bowl LI, which was a critical part in orchestrating the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history. Since that play, he has struggled with injuries and old age, but he still occasionally makes a big play that reminds me of his prime. His 85.1 PFF grade in 2015 ranked seventh in the whole league among linebackers, trailing his teammate Jamie Collins by a point.
Cornerback: Malcolm Butler
The undersized Butler had a short but fun ride with New England. He is well-known for his historic Super Bowl interception, but he has accomplished a lot more than that. Butler was very solid as a corner in 2015 and 2017, but 2016 was his year. He made PFF’s All-Pro team and was a shutdown corner all year. His scrappy play was incredibly fun to watch and he always made key plays. Unfortunately, his last game in New England was a sad one. For whatever reason, Belichick benched him in Super Bowl LII. The secondary got mauled all day by Nick Foles, yet Butler never saw the field. It was an unfortunate end to an incredible four years on the team.
Cornerback: Stephon Gilmore
After some struggles at the start of 2017, people were quick to call Gilmore a free agent bust. In hindsight, this was hopelessly foolish. Most of his “blown coverages” in the four-week defensive debacle that was the start of 2017 were not his fault, but the fault of other players on D. The perception of Gilmore quickly shifted, and by the end of 2017 he was easily the CB1. He was fantastic in the playoffs, and was the only defensive player who showed up against the Eagles.
In 2018, it was more of the same. Gilmore dominated all season and got named to PFF’s and the AP All-Pro team. 2019 was even more fruitful in some cases, as he was the leading player of the league’s best defense. It is unlikely, but Gilmore might even win DPOY for his efforts. He made both All-Pro teams yet again in 2019.
Cornerback: Darrelle Revis
The former Jets legend left New York for Tampa Bay in 2013. After another solid season, the Patriots signed him in hopes of more dominant play. It worked out. After a slow start, Revis dominated number one receivers for most of 2014, and the defensive back that terrorized Tom Brady for so long was on his side this time around. He was a key defensive player on a Patriots team that won its first Super Bowl since 2004, and his short but sweet time in New England needs to be honored.
Honorable Mentions: Logan Ryan, Aqib Talib, Jonathan Jones, Brandon Browner
Safety: Devin McCourty
This is another easy one. Other than a bumpy 2011, McCourty has been consistently great since his Pro Bowl year in 2010. He has put up a PFF grade over 90 three times, which is incredible. He is the vocal leader of the defense as well, and his pregame speeches are always inspiring. While the rest of the Patriots defense has had its problems at times, safety has always been locked down by DMac. His 26 interceptions lead the team by a long shot as well.
Safety: Duron Harmon
I know Patrick Chung is probably the “correct” choice here, but I have to put Harmon up here. His knack for getting game-winning interceptions is magical. In the Divisional Round against the Ravens in 2015, his game-winning pick put to rest a very real scoring threat for Baltimore. He also intercepted Foles in Super Bowl LII, the one big play the defense made all day. Harmon is a thrill to watch, and he has a place in my heart.
Kicker: Stephen Gostkowski
Another easy one. Gostkowski has been the kicker for the most part, and he has been consistently great. His 2015 was historically good, and he was always very solid.
Punter: Ryan Allen
As Cris Collinsworth never forgets to point out, Allen is a left-footed punter. Bill Belichick loves left-footed punters. There is not much else to say, but he was pretty good.
