By james art The New England Patriots will have some tough decisions to make before the NFL trade deadline, and one of them will be deciding what to do with cornerback Jonathan Jones.
Jones has been with the Patriots since 2016, but the veteran is in the final year of his contract. It doesn’t make much sense for a rebuilding New England team to keep the 31-year-old on board, so trade speculation is swirling around him.
NESN’s Sean T. McGuire thinks the best move for the Pats would be to part ways with Jones, even if it represents the end of an era.
“Would Jones re-sign in New England knowing that was the case? Do the Patriots intend to re-sign him knowing they have so much more pressing need at cornerback? If not, the Patriots should get what they can now,” McGuire wrote.
McGuire added that Jones might be the “most desirable piece” in New England and that he would likely bring a better return than edge Josh Uche, whom the Pats dealt to the Kansas City Chiefs for a sixth-round pick.
Many teams around the league need help at cornerback, and while Jones isn’t a pro, he’s a reliable presence who has big-play experience.
The Auburn product — who actually went undrafted before landing with the Pats nearly a decade ago — helped the Patriots win multiple Super Bowl championships.
Through the first eight weeks of 2024, Jones recorded 28 tackles, a forced fumble and three passes defensed. He recorded 48 tackles and seven passes defensed last season.
New England looks likely to move several pieces in the coming week, and Jones could be one of them.
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