One of the biggest concerns facing the Patriots entering the 2022 season is the lack of star-level talent on the roster.

New England had four players selected for the Pro Bowl in the 2021 season and just two players named to one of the All-Pro teams. Mac Jones was an injury replacement for the Pro Bowl and most rankings don't view him as a top 10 quarterback. One of their two Pro Bowl and All-Pro players was gunner Matthew Slater and the other was J.C. Jackson, who departed for the Chargers in the free agency.

While the Patriots might not have star talent though, there is a reason they went 10-7 and made the playoffs a year ago. They have multiple players at different positions that can be considered the best at their specific roles in the league. One position group stands above them all, though.

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Patriots Key Position Group For 2022 NFL Season

You could argue that the Patriots' top position group is running back, and you might not be wrong. But the Patriots' safeties are the most talented unit on the roster with their performance in 2022 potentially determining the team's ceiling.

Free safety Devin McCourty is obviously the most recognizable name of the group. McCourty, who turns 35 in August, is a three-time All-Pro and was a key part of the Patriots' last three Super Bowl wins. He was still a high-quality player in his 12th season, too. McCourty recorded 60 combined tackles and opposing quarterbacks completed just 9-of-26 passes when targeting McCourty, who had three interceptions. The strong season earned McCourty a one-year, $9 million deal for the upcoming season.

Kyle Dugger could supplant McCourty as the team's top safety in 2022, if he already hasn't. The Patriots' top pick from the 2020 NFL Draft had a strong second season, recording a team-high 70 solo tackles plus four interceptions. Dugger wasn't as strong in pass coverage as McCourty, allowing opposing quarterbacks to complete 32-of-50 passes (64 percent) when targeting him. But he allowed just 295 yards over those 50 targets as opposing quarterbacks had a measly 66.7 passer rating when targeting Dugger in 2021.

The strong play at safety doesn't end with Dugger. Adrian Phillips also made a case to be the team's top safety in 2021. The eight-year-vet recorded 92 combined tackles, a forced fumble, and four interceptions last season. Opposing quarterbacks targeted Phillips a bit more than McCourty and Dugger, completing 34-of-57 passes (59.6 percent) for 310 yards. But because of the four interceptions, opposing quarterbacks had a 68.6 passer rating when targeting Phillips in 2021.

Jabrill Peppers is the wild-card of the group. The Patriots signed Peppers in the offseason after he tore his ACL early in the season with the Giants last year. The five-year vet has had some strong performances in the past, recording 91 combined tackles in 2020, but has struggled in the passing game. Opposing quarterbacks completed 20-of-23 passes for 226 yards and a touchdown when targeting Peppers in the six games he played last season.

New England might not need Peppers to be a factor in the passing game though. The Patriots' linebacker play looked non-existent in their blowout playoff loss to the Bills. With Dont'a Hightower still a free agent and the Patriots not making any notable veteran adds at the position, it's reasonable to think that Peppers could shift up and play more of a linebacker role in 2022. He does play in the box a lot, with most the snaps of his career actually coming in the box, per Pro Football Focus.

As Peppers could be used to cover the uncertainty at linebacker, the other three safeties could be used to mask the other perceived holes on the roster. Jackson's departure leaves a lot of uncertainty at cornerback as Jalen Mills, who played safety with the Eagles, was the Patriots' No. 2 corner after signing with them prior to 2021. McCourty's strong play as a pass defender should help them, either quarterbacking the secondary or potentially being used in coverage.

No matter how the Patriots use their safeties though, they have to feel good about the group entering 2022. Phillips (eighth), McCourty (14th), and Dugger (31st) were all graded as starter-level players, at the very least, by Pro Fooball Focus last season.

Even if the Patriots aren't strong at other positions, their safeties could be good enough to make the defensive unit good enough to win games in 2022.