New England Patriots Release Jack Jones: Replacement in Secondary?

The New England Patriots have some difficult decisions to make in the wake of cutting talented cornerback Jack Jones.

FOXBORO — The New England Patriots raised more than a few eyebrows on Monday afternoon when they released cornerback Jack Jones after nearly two eventful seasons with the club. 

The timing of the move comes at a bit a a surprise, as the team is just over 24 hours removed from their 10-6 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Week 10 from Frankfurt, Germany. It also cut Jones without compensation, rather than attempting to trade him at the deadline two weeks ago.

Jones joined the Patriots as a fourth-round pick (No. 121 overall) in the 2022 NFL Draft. Early on, he caught the eye of Patriots fans with his athletic, 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 a Pick 6 of Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay. Unfortunately, the 25-year-old landed on injured reserve late in the season due to a knee injury. He was later suspended the final two games for undisclosed reasons.

Jones’ troubles followed him into what became a tumultuous offseason. The Arizona State product faced weapons charges stemming from a June arrest at Boston's Logan Airport. Though the charges against Jones were dropped in September, his future in Foxboro began to come into question during that time. He remained away from the field for the first five games of the season after suffering a hamstring injury which required a stay on injured reserve.

Still, Jones was expected to play a notable role in the Patriots secondary — a unit which was already depleted by season-ending injuries to rookie Christian Gonzalez and second-year speedster Marcus Jones, as well as the continued ailments of veteran Jonathan Jones.

Accordingly, the question on the minds of all Patriots fans is: “Why release Jack Jones now?” Simply put, it just was not working out for him here in New England.

Since making his 2023 debut in the Pats Week 7 upset win over the Buffalo Bills, Jones had recorded only 12 tackles and one pass break-up. The troubled, yet talented corner appeared to be uncomfortable in the Pats secondary since his return, leading to issues with his engagement and work ethic. Following Jones’ struggles in the Pats' Week 8 loss to the Miami Dolphins — in which he was responsible for a allowing 31-yard touchdown reception — he was benched for the entire first quarter of the Pats Week 9 loss to the Washington Commanders. He finished the game having combined for just three tackles. 

Clearly unhappy with his usage in that game, Jones left Gillette Stadium before the locker room was opened to reporters — though he was active on social media in a series of interesting posts following the game's conclusion. At that time, it was learned that Jones’ demotion stemmed from his missing the team curfew the night before. Jones continued to remain disengaged from his teammates throughout their week of preparation for their matchup with the Colts. He took only 10 snaps on defense, while logging only two tackles in his final game as a Patriot. Per multiple sources — including one close to Patriots Country — Jones’ lack of improvement regarding his attitude toward the team was the final straw in their decision to part ways  

As such, Jones’ release leaves the Patriots with another failed draft pick and a degree of uncertainty in their defensive backfield. The team already facing an onslaught of questions about the status of coach Bill Belichick and the starting quarterback job, is now forced to fill what could be a significant void in their secondary.

New England Patriots CB Jack Jones (13) returns an interception against the Green Bay Packers / Credit: USA TODAY Sports Images

Next Man Up?

J.C. Jackson

Jackson re-joined the Patriots via trade from the Los Angeles Chargers in early October. The 27-year-old spent from 2018-21 with New England — a four-year stint which included a Super Bowl championship (LIII) and earning nods as a Pro Bowler and an All-Pro. Since his return, he has logged 14 tackles and three passes-defensed. However, his second tour of duty in New England has been cloaked in subpar play, along with questions surrounding his own engagement. Like Jones, Jackson also struggled against the Dolphins in Week 8, surrendering five catches for 94 yards and a pair of touchdowns. After failing to report to the team hotel on the eve of their Week 9 matchup against Washington, Jackson was benched for the game’s first two series. He was also ruled out for the Pats Week 10 matchup with Indianapolis due to personal reasons, and thus did not travel with the team to Germany. 

When playing at his best, Jackson is still one of the NFL's most talented ball-hawking perimeter cornerbacks. His size (6-1, 198 pounds) provides him the ability to attack the ball at its highest point and fight through contact. Still, he will have to limit contact with his targets down the field or run the risk of being flagged for penalties — an issue with which he has struggled throughout his career. Nevertheless, Jackson's presence on the field should provide a lockdown presence on at least one of their opponent’s top pass-catching options. Pats coach Bill Belichick recently expressed his belief that Jackson will be available for the Patriots heading into their Week 12 matchup with the New York Giants. With Jones’ release, his presence on the field is needed now more than ever. 

Shaun Wade

Wade is the definition of potential versus performance. In seven games played for the Pats since 2021, he has compiled just five tackles (one for loss) in limited duty. However, Wade was a highly touted slot cornerback prospect during his time at Ohio State; even viewed as a potential first round pick. In his final season with the Buckeyes, he was moved from the slot to outside cornerback. This, along with Wade playing much of the year with turf toe, caused his draft stock to plummet. At his best, Wade is aggressive at the catch point, while showing an ability to read his opponent. Despite a limited pro resume, he should receive plenty of attention, as well as opportunity to make an impression. Given his abilities to align either in the slot or on the outside, Wade may now get the chance to showcase his versatility for the first time at the pro level. In nine games (three starts) this season, Wade has compiled 16 tackles (one for loss) and one pass break-up. 

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 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. Despite dealing with a rash of injuries kept him from suiting up three times this season, Jones has logged 20 total tackles, with three passes-defensed in seven games. 

---