As a sixth-round draft pick from Auburn last year, cornerback DJ James didn’t stick with the Seattle Seahawks.
This year, the former Spanish Fort High School standout is hoping for a better outcome at the end of the preseason with the New England Patriots.
The preseason started for James and the Patriots with a 48-18 victory over the Washington Commanders on Friday night. The cornerback was on the field for 32 defensive snaps and seven special-teams plays and came away with three tackles and one interception.
“I think it’s always exciting to see players that take advantage of opportunities,” New England coach Mike Vrabel said after the game. “DJ was one of the players that was here for rookie minicamp, and I would say since that day, that weekend, he’s continued to improve. I think he’s taken advantage of that. And so I’m always for players that get better, take coaching. It’s on them obviously to improve, and so that’s all to DJ’s credit. And so I’m excited for him, that he can put in the work and then start to see it translate onto the field.”
With the Patriots’ top cornerbacks, Christian Gonzalez and former Auburn standout Carlton Davis, missing some practice time with injuries, James has gotten more reps with New England’s first- and second-team defensive units than he might have.
“Just taking it each and every day,” James said. “Learning the scheme, talking to my coaches. They really helped me a lot. Coming a long way, just pushing me each and every day. And also my teammates. I got to thank my guys on the other side of the ball as well. They push me every day during camp just for these moments here. …
“Each and every day, I try to come in and just show my teammates and my coaches that I’m someone that wants to be on this team, someone that wants to just help improve this team and just ready to come to work every day and be a great teammate.”
In the first quarter of Friday night’s preseason game, James picked off a pass by Washington quarterback Sam Hartman and returned the interception 11 yards to the Commanders 31-yard line.
James said his biggest improvement over the past four months has been “my confidence at corner.”
“Just knowing I got that play style, that swagger with myself,” James said, “that I know I can go out there and just compete with anybody.”
An All-State selection at Spanish Fort in 2018, James played three seasons at Oregon and two at Auburn before joining the Seahawks in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Seattle waived James when it reduced its preseason roster to the regular-season limit. He joined the Patriots’ practice squad two weeks into the 2024 campaign and spent the rest of the season there without playing in a game.
“Everybody’s story is different,” James said, “and just waiting on that opportunity to just showcase myself. And that time is coming, so I’m blessed to have that opportunity.”
New England plays the second of its three preseason games at noon CDT Saturday, when the Patriots meet the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.
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