The Patriots cornerback depth chart is like a great diet – getting thinner by the minute.
According to NFL.com, New England is releasing veteran fourth-year cornerback Alfonzo Dennard.
Dennard is a former seventh-round pick who started a combined 16 games in his first two seasons in New England in 2012 and 2013. But a year ago he started a mere four games, was inactive nine times and landed on injured reserve to close out the season. Whether his fall from grace in 2014 – he started the season opener while Brandon Browner was on NFL suspension – was due to injury or other issues is unknown.
It's possible that the Patriots attempted to trade the veteran this weekend and could not find any takers and therefore were left to simply cut ties with Dennard.
Still, the Patriots have now lost a combined cornerback 29 starts this spring with Darrelle Revis (16) and Browner (9) leaving via free agency and, now, Dennard (4) being released.
The Patriots have added bodies to the position if not high-end talent, though, with the free agent signings of Bradley Fletcher, Robert McClain and Chimdi Chekwa as well as the selection of seventh-round draft pick Darryl Roberts.
Returning players on the cornerback depth chart now include Kyle Arrington, Logan Ryan, Malcom Butler and Justin Green.
What do you think of Dennard being released? Of the cornerback position in general? Let us know with a comment below!