After stints with the Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans, cornerback Alex Austin finished his rookie … [+]
The next transactions are around the corner in the NFL. Alex Austin found himself among several as a rookie.
But with the New England Patriots, the 23-year-old is starting to find his footing. During organized team activities this spring, that growth has included a share of reps with members of the forecasted first-team defense.
“It means a lot,” Austin told reporters following Tuesday’s voluntary session on the Gillette Stadium practice fields. “Coming into my second season, having some comfortability under my belt, coaches being able to trust me to be out there with the one group of guys. I’m just trying to take full advantage of every opportunity knowing that you never know when it’s your last day in this building in this business. Especially me. I didn’t see it as a rookie.”
For Austin, the NFL run began elsewhere in the AFC East. The Buffalo Bills selected the Oregon State product in the seventh round of the 2023 draft. At No. 252 overall, only one cornerback prospect left the board after him.
But as the league’s 53-man roster deadline arrived last August, Austin departed from the organization that filled out his card that April. He would be claimed off waivers by the Houston Texans. The initial three games of his career followed with the eventual AFC South champions. So did a stint on the practice squad, which ended with his release as the calendar turned to November.
The Patriots signed Austin to the active roster the following day.
“It definitely helped being in three different systems last year,” Austin said. “It definitely helped me know a lot more football. Seeing a lot of different offensive schemes, different receiver body types, I would say it helped me tremendously because by the time I got here, I was on stop No. 3. So, I had a lot of comfortability, a lot of snaps under my belt, and I was just really anxious to show my talents and get out there and help win some games.”
The 6-foot-1, 191-pound perimeter corner made five appearances for a depth chart that had been subject to injured reserve. His first NFL start came against the Kansas City Chiefs in December and spanned all 65 defensive snaps. And by New Year’s Eve at Highmark Stadium, he landed his first interception against previous teammates.
It was corralled with 5:59 to go before halftime on a pass that quarterback Josh Allen had intended for tight end Dalton Kincaid.
“When we finished up last year, he was one of those guys where we’re like, ‘Look, this is an NFL player,’” Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo said during his Tuesday press conference in Foxborough. “And it’s good to see him coming back in shape, going out here and making plays. So, it’s good to see.”
During his young stay with the Patriots, Austin has handled 211 snaps on defense and 22 snaps on special teams. He stands with nine tackles and recorded a pass breakup as well as a 90.7 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus in the finale versus the New York Jets.
There is experience to pull from.
“It feels great. It feels amazing,” added Austin. “To come in in the beginning of the season, get a full spring under my belt, be able to just take the little steps with the guys, learning every day, trusting the process and building the camaraderie. I did come in late and jumped straight into the fire last year, so it feels good just to be able to come out here and take the process slow with the guys and enjoy every day.”
Ahead of free agency, New England retained Austin’s exclusive rights on a one-year tender featuring a non-guaranteed $915,000 base salary. He moves forward in a cornerback room that has regained former NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month Christian Gonzalez and former first-team All-Pro punt returner Marcus Jones.
The position also includes tenured veteran Jonathan Jones, plus Shaun Wade, Marco Wilson, Isaiah Bolden, Azizi Hearn as well as incoming rookies Marcellas Dial, Mikey Victor and Kaleb Ford-Dement.
“Honestly, for me, it’s always just to stay level-headed and show up every day with the same work ethic, be consistent and just go hard, be a great team player,” Austin said. “I look up to the older guys in the room, and I’m just here every day looking to learn, push one another and make each other better and win.”