Nine-year veteran cornerback Jonathan Jones has signed a new contract with the Washington Commanders. Jones, a former undrafted free agent and two-time Super Bowl champion, spent the entirety of his career with the New England Patriots.
Jonathan Jones, Washington Commanders, Agree to Contract
Like just about everyone on the New England Patriots, Jonathan Jones took a step back during his first season without Bill Belichick. Playing under a clearly overwhelmed Jerod Mayo and defensive coordinator Demarcus Covington, Jones regressed as the defense struggled to adapt without one of the best minds in NFL history. Appearing in all 17 games, Jones finished the season with no interceptions, six passes defended, 58 tackles, and a 60.7 PFF grade, the 79th-best mark out of 117 eligible players.
Jonathan Jones originally entered the league as an undrafted free agent following the 2016 NFL Draft. Signing with the Patriots, Jones spent most of his rookie season working on special teams while occasionally moonlighting as a slot cornerback. Despite his small role on the team, he still helped win Super Bowl 51 against the Atlanta Falcons and earned a ring for his efforts. He earned a larger role in 2017 but couldn’t help out in the postseason after tearing his Achilles in the Divisional Round win over the Tennessee Titans.
Jones returned to the field and became a fixture of New England’s defense for the next six years. Establishing himself as one of the league’s better slot cornerbacks, he is one of the few holdovers from the Patriots dynasty to outlast Bill Belichick in New England. While he remained effective throughout his tenure, he was at his best in 2019 and 2020 and can play both in the slot and out wide when required.
Since signing his rookie contract, Jonathan Jones has appeared in 132 games while making 71 starts. While on the field, the Auburn product has recorded 11 interceptions, 57 passes defended, 2.5 sacks, and 436 tackles.
