Patriots 90-Man Roster Spotlight: Jonathan Jones

The New England Patriots can have up to 90 players under contract during the offseason. Patriots Football Now will profile all 90 players (though there are currently 91 on the roster) over the upcoming months. Today’s featured player is veteran cornerback Jonathan Jones.

Jonathan Jones

The New England Patriots signed Jonathan Jones as an undrafted free agent following the 2016 NFL Draft. Jones was a productive multi-year starter at Auburn and ran a 4.33 40-yard dash, but no NFL team selected the 5-foot-10 corner. Jones’ misfortune at the time became a lucky break for the Patriots, who obtained the UDFA.

Jones made New England’s roster as a rookie and became a core special teams player in his first NFL season. He went on to win a Super Bowl his first year in the league. By Jones’ second year, he was a regular contributor on defense in addition to his special teams work. In his third season with the Patriots, he won his second Super Bowl. During that 2018 season, he played 49% of snaps on defense and 57% on special teams.

Also Read: Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Nominee: Jonathan Jones

Jonathan Jones is now the third longest-tenured Patriots player behind only Joe Cardona and David Andrews. He’s played 123 games for New England, including the postseason, with 59 starts. He started all 30 games he appeared in over the past two seasons, registering a career-high four interceptions in 2022.

Pro Football Focus gave Jonathan Jones a 76.5 defensive grade for his 2023 performance. Of the 14 Patriots players to play at least 350 defensive snaps, only three of his teammates scored higher.

Contract Status

Jonathan Jones has only one year remaining on his contract with the Patriots. His 2024 cap number is $12,573,529.

Cornerback Group

The New England Patriots cornerback room has Christian Gonzalez and Jonathan Jones at the top of the depth chart. The other nine corners battling for roster spots in training camp are Alex Austin, Isaiah Bolden, Marcellas Dial Jr., Kaleb Ford-Dement, Azizi Hearn, Marcus Jones, Mikey Victor, Shaun Wade, and Marco Wilson. New England could also add a veteran free agent to round out this unit.

Outlook for Jonathan Jones

Jones has been a reliable player for the Patriots for eight seasons. The past two seasons he has transitioned from being a core special teams player to a full-time starting cornerback for New England. With many injuries to the group last season, Jones stepped up and was very solid.

Jonathan Jones represents the New England Patriots franchise well on and off the field. He continues to contribute to a stellar defensive unit, He’s durable, having played at least 14 games in seven of eight NFL seasons. Jones is also a valuable cornerback, capable of playing opposite Christian Gonzalez on the outside if needed, or as a slot corner. He leads by example in the locker room and the community, earning numerous accolades for his community contributions. Once an undrafted free agent on a championship team, Jones now finds himself as a wiley veteran relied upon to help New England get headed in the right direction once again.