Patriots Should Make Tough Decision, Trade Respected Veteran

Jonathan Jones has been productive, versatile and reliable for the New England Patriots.

But the Patriots would be wise to trade the veteran defensive back before the NFL trade deadline Tuesday.

It would be a tough decision, no doubt, especially for an organization trying to establish a culture all while they’ve lost captains and leaders in the locker room. Jones elevated into a leadership role despite the fact he doesn’t wear a captain’s “C.” He broke down the Patriots post-win locker room Sunday.

However, there are multiple reasons why it would be the correct move. Those were discussed on NESN’s “Foxboro Rush” podcast published Wednesday.

Chief among them is the fact the 31-year-old Jones is playing on an expiring contract. Jones was a vital piece during New England’s contending seasons, but won’t be the next time they’re in such a position. The Patriots are in the basement elevator of a six-story rebuild.

Will Jones re-sign in New England knowing that’s the case? Do the Patriots intend to re-sign him knowing they have so many more pressing needs than cornerback? If not, the Patriots need to get what they can now.

Jones also might be New England’s most desirable piece. The Patriots traded pass-rusher Joshua Uche and reportedly are receiving calls on wide receivers like K.J. Osborn and Tyquan Thornton. New England acquired a 2026 sixth-rounder for Uche and it’s unlikely Osborn or Thornton would bring back anything better.

Jones would.

The starting corner who’s proven an ability to play safety is New England’s third-highest graded coverage player, per Pro Football Focus. He’s the highest-graded among the three starting cornerbacks (Christian Gonzalez, Marcus Jones) and ranks inside the top 20 coverage players in the league, per PFF. He’s also a proven tackler in space despite his 5-foot-9, 185-pound frame.

He plays one of the game’s premier positions, too. Playoff contending teams like the Washington Commanders or Cincinnati Bengals could use a player like Jones, and they’re not alone.

Could the Patriots receive a fourth-round pick for Jones? That’s nothing to scoff at for a rebuilding team. The more draft picks the better.

It would be a tough decision, but Patriots executive vice president Eliot Wolf needs to be thinking about the future. Parting ways with a valuable piece of the past is one to do so.