Jack Jones Future Uncertain: How Do Patriots Replace Him?
FOXBORO — As New England Patriots cornerback Jack Jones' legal woes continue to take center stage, coach Bill Belichick and the Pats brass face a difficult decision regarding his future on an NFL field.
Jones was arraigned on Tuesday morning at East Boston District Court on firearms charges, stemming from his arrest at Boston's Logan Airport on Friday evening.
The Pats second-year defensive back was detained and then taken into custody for attempting to board an aircraft with two loaded firearms. As a result, Jones is facing a litany of charges. Though he pleaded not guilty before being released on $30,000 bail, Jones could be subject to significant prison time, if convicted.
While his legal issues will understandably be his top priority, Jones' uncertain playing future leaves the Patriots with a degree of uncertainty in their defensive backfield. Should he be released, or deemed ineligible to play, New England will be forced to fill what could be a significant void in their secondary.
In only one season, Jones caught the eye of many a Patriots fan with his high-octane style of play. Though slightly undersized for the position, at 5-11, 175 pounds, he became an aggressive presence on the perimeter. In 13 games [454 defensive snaps] as a rookie, Jones compiled 30 tackles, six passes-defensed, one forced fumble, one recovery and two interceptions, including one for a touchdown return.
With Jones' standing still in question, here is a look at New England's top three options at outside corner heading into 2023.
Christian Gonzalez
Selected in the first round (No. 17 overall) in the 2023 NFL Draft, Gonzalez has the chance to become the Patriots most versatile, yet athletic perimeter corner since the departure of former All-Pro Stephon Gilmore. The Oregon product projects as the team's primary boundary cornerback from the outset of his pro career. He is well-sized at 6-2, 200 pounds, with the height and length to match up against opposing teams’ top receivers on the outside. On the field, Gonzalez is arguably at his best in man coverage. However, his ability to maintain eye contact with the quarterback makes him a potential asset in zone, as well. Though his performance during training camp is likely to be the deciding factor in his role at the start of the season, Gonzalez has already shown enough athleticism and field savvy to ensure that he will be a notable part of their corps of cornerbacks for many years to come.
Jonathan Jones
Since joining the Patriots as an undrafted rookie out of Auburn in 2016, Jones has become of the team’s most versatile defensive backs. For his first five seasons in New England, he was considered among the top slot corners in the NFL. Following the departure of ex-alpha cornerback J. C. Jackson via free agency in 2022, Jones make the switch to the perimeter. The 29-year-old compiled 69 total tackles, 11 passes-defensed, four interceptions (one of which went for a touchdown) and three forced fumbles in 16 games. In coverage, Jones performed adequately, surrendering 47 catches on 87 targets for 547 yards and six touchdowns, per Pro Football Focus. He was the Pats most reliable contributor at the position in 2022. As such, he may be the most logical choice to align opposite Gonzalez in the upcoming season.
Jalen Mills
Despite his ability to align in multiple positions within the Pats secondary, he Mills played a majority of his time at perimeter corner for the past two seasons. Since that time, he has compiled 78 total tackles, 12 passes-defenses, two interceptions and one fumble recovery. In 2022, Mills was quite a serviceable option as a starter on the right side of the Pats’ defensive backfield … when he was on the field. A hamstring injury sidelined him for one game last season, while a groin injury forced him to miss the final six games of the campaign. Still, Mills was able to log 31 tackles, five pass break-ups and intercept two passes. In the process, he held opposing quarterbacks to completing only 27-of-45 for 333 yards when targeting him. Despite Mills having seen the majority of his time at safety during New England's offseason workouts, Jones' unsettled future may force the 'Green Goblin' back to the outside in 2023.
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