After the New England Patriots hired Mike Vrabel as their head coach, he started putting his stamp on the roster. Vrabel emphasized bringing in players he is familiar with and trusts in his system. Armed with more cap space than any team in the NFL, the Patriots completely revamped their personnel on both ends of the field, but especially defensively.
This meant that a few Patriots veterans who had been with the team for a long time had to depart. Vrabel, wanting to kickstart a new era of Patriots football, wanted to get rid of longtime Patriots who have gotten too accustomed to losing over the last few years.
One of those players was 31-year-old cornerback Jonathan Jones. The former undrafted free agent had carved out a role for himself since he came into the league in 2016, contributing to two Super Bowl wins. Since 2022, Jones has been a starter and an important part of the Patriots' defense. This offseason, he signed a one-year deal with the Washington Commanders, leaving Foxborough for the first time in his career.
Former Patriots CB Jonathan Jones' Days as an NFL Starter May Be Over
So far, he may not be very happy with his decision. The way OTAs have gone in Washington signals an uphill battle for the veteran defender. After starting a total of 44 games over the last three seasons and playing over 700 defensive snaps in each season, Jones will likely struggle to get that large of a role under Dan Quinn in Washington.
What complicates matters for Jones is the fact that the Commanders had star cornerback prospect Trey Amos fall into their lap in the draft. Considered a first-round talent, Amos fell all the way to Washington's 61st-overall pick because of minor injury concerns. During the offseason program, he has erased all concerns and has been one of the camp standouts for the Commanders.
Considering the fact that the Commanders already have star cornerbacks Mike Sainristil and Marshon Lattimore as starters, with established veteran Noah Igbinoghene favorite to start at the nickel, there simply aren't too many snaps to go around for Jones.
The former Patriots defender will add veteran competence and reliable bench play for the Commanders, but his days as a starter in the NFL may be over.