Patriots Country

Patriots' Jaylinn Hawkins Shares Head-Turning Falcons Story

Jaylinn Hawkins details the pay-cut request that led to his Falcons exit and explains how the setback fueled his steady rise with the Patriots defense unit.
Jhelum Mehta|
Dec 28, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New England Patriots safety Jaylinn Hawkins (21) celebrates an interception against the New York Jets during the first quarter of the game at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Dec 28, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New England Patriots safety Jaylinn Hawkins (21) celebrates an interception against the New York Jets during the first quarter of the game at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images | Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

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New England Patriots

Back in May 2025, the New England Patriots quietly took care of their own, re-signing safety Jaylinn Hawkins in a move that’s aged like fine wine. What looked like solid depth insurance at the time has turned into one of the sharper roster calls the front office made all year. 

Hawkins, now 27, originally landed in New England in 2024 on a one-year prove-it deal and made the most of every snap. He suited up for all 17 games, earned seven starts, and stacked 48 tackles, three tackles for loss, and a pass breakup while doing plenty of the dirty work on the back end. Before Foxborough, Hawkins came up with the Atlanta Falcons, but now that he’s finally opening up about how that breakup went down, let’s just say the locker-room tea is officially boiling.

Jaylinn Hawkins Sheds Light on Falcons Exit

Jaylinn Hawkins recently chopped it up with Ari Meirov on the NFL Spotlight, and the convo drifted straight into the cold, business-heavy side of the league.

In the video, Meirov asked, “At what point did you realise that this league is not just a game?” and Hawkins immediately answered, “I never really addressed this… I learned early on my 4th year… I was supposed to receive, like, a bonus… asked me to take a paycut and break that bonus into incentives. Things weren’t going as said, and I asked for a trade… then asked them I to release me.”

He then explained about he chose to be on himself and take the risk, wanting to do what he loved doing, ending it by saying how it all worked out in the end.

Fast forward, and that gamble paid off. With the New England Patriots, Hawkins has quietly stacked a rock-solid résumé. He’s totaled 69 tackles, including 44 solo stops and 25 assists, chipped in 1.5 sacks, forced and recovered a fumble, and snagged three interceptions. 

The irony is thick. Hawkins entered the league as a fourth-round pick, No. 134 overall, selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2020 NFL Draft. He signed a standard four-year rookie deal worth $3,961,916, averaging $990,479 per year, with a $666,916 signing bonus that made up all of his guaranteed money. It was a textbook rookie contract, until the business got messy.

Now? Hawkins is proof that sometimes the smartest move is trusting your own tape. The Patriots are at the top of the AFC East and fighting for the No.1 seed. They square off against the Dolphins in Week 18. And Hawkins is at the center of the D-line.

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Jhelum Mehta
JHELUM MEHTA

Jhelum Mehta is a writer at On SI. She started her journalism career in 2023, and she has previously worked with EssentiallySports, FandomWire, and PFSN, gaining valuable experience across multiple sports beats. Currently pursuing a master’s degree in Psychology, Jhelum brings a thoughtful, people-centric approach to her storytelling. A big admirer of Patrick Mahomes, she draws inspiration from his commanding persona and his unwavering belief that he’s built to conquer every challenge. This mindset often shapes Jhelum's own style and perspective as a writer. When she’s off the desk, you’ll most likely find her lost in a mystery novel, enjoying stories that keep her guessing from start to finish.

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