Pats handle business on Day 1 of free agency

At the dawn of free agency, the Patriots’ top priority was clear: get their house in order.

The Pats shed the worst contract on their books with their first move Monday, then retained two members of their top-5 defense. One of those players, cornerback Jonathan Jones, checked a major box on their offseason to-do list.

According to a source, Jones will re- sign on a 2-year deal worth $19 million with $13 million guaranteed. The deal includes a $7.5 million signing bonus and playing- time incentives worth up to $500,000 each year that could carry the contract’s total value to $20 million. Jones expressed a strong interest in re- signing with the team last week, telling the Herald: “It’s what I know. It’s what I love. It’s New England. It’s hard to say no to New England.”

Last year, Jones changed positions and started 16 games at outside corner. He snatched a career-high four interceptions, forced three fumbles and broke up 11 passes. Prior to last season, Jones spent the entirety of his 7-year career as a slot corner who occasionally rotated back to safety.

It’s unclear whether Jones will return to his starting outside spot or help offset the loss of the newly retired Devin Mccourty and play safety. Jones will turn 30 in September. His best position, nickelback, could go to 2022 thirdround pick Marcus Jones, though defensive backs frequently rotate positions in training camp.

Since entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2016, Jones started 43 of a possible 101 regular-season games. In addition to covering slot receivers, he’s forced at least one turnover in every season of his career and made an impact on special teams. Jones is also considered a rising leader in the locker room.

Prior to re- signing, he was viewed as one of the five best cornerbacks available in free agency. Jones now rejoins a corner depth chart consisting of Marcus Jones, Jalen Mills, Jack Jones and Shaun Wade. Hybrid nickelback/safety Myles Bryant is a restricted free agent.

Before the Patriots agreed to pay Jones, they cut ties with tight end Jonnu Smith in a salary dump trade with the Falcons. Once the trade is finalized on Wednesday, the official start of the 2023 NFL calendar year, the Pats will receive Atlanta’s sev

ulate him in every way over the years, that he felt like he had evolved into a younger version of the Patriots great in terms of work ethic, and being a mentor to the younger players. But it doesn’t stop there.

Mccourty and Slater, who were part of three championship teams, became extensions of Belichick in the room.

That’s why keeping Jones was important, so he can continue in that light, not to mention the Patriots are thin on the depth chart in the cornerback room.

Even with Jones, the Patriots still need to add more at that position. Several of the top free agents went off the board Monday (Jamel Dean, Cameron Sutton, Patrick Peterson), while enth-round pick and create $4.4 million in cap space. The deal will also force the Patriots to eat a $12.8 million dead cap hit, one of the highest in franchise history.

Smith has two years remaining on the 4-year, $50 million deal he signed as an unrestricted free agent in March 2021, one of the worst contracts in the league. Over two seasons in New England, Smith caught just 55 passes, scored one touchdown and failed to crack 300 yards in each year. Smith’s departure leaves Hunter Henry and practice-squad players Matt Sokol and Scotty Washington in the team’s tight ends room.

With Henry’s contract set to expire after next season, tight end now becomes a top need for the Patriots. Several draft prospects, including Notre Dame’s Michael Mayer and Utah’s Dalton Kincaid, are considered future first or second-round picks. The tight end class is viewed as one of the deepest in years.

If the Patriots prefer to replace Smith in free agency, they could pursue any number of veterans. Cowboys tight end Dalton Schultz was still available late Monday night, as was Miami’s Mike Gesicki, who is more of a pass- catcher than run-blocker. Bengals

Jalen Ramsey went to the Dolphins in a trade. But there’s still time for the Pats to make a move there, or in the draft to solidify the position.

While retaining Jones allows him to assume more of a leadership role, that shouldn’t preclude others from doing the same. Along with Jones, the Patriots need some new faces to enter the leadership picture.

“As a coach, you’re always looking for leaders. Not necessarily captains, but you’re looking for as much leadership as possible,” NBC analyst and Patriots Hall of Famer Rodney Harrison said when reached Monday.

Last year, Deatrich Wise, Ja’whaun Bentley and Mac Jones were made first-time captains along with mainstays tight end Hayden Hurst and Titans veteran Austin Hooper are both solid, wellrounded players.

The NFL Network first reported Smith’s trade to Atlanta, where he will reunite with head coach Arthur Smith, his former offensive coordinator in Tennessee.

The Patriots ensured another reunion early Monday afternoon when, per source, they closed on a 1-year deal with defensive tackle Carl Davis. Davis has been a rotational player on the Pats’ defensive line since they signed him off Jacksonville’s practice squad in October 2020. At 6-foot-5 and 320 pounds, he is one of the team’s best run-stuffers and the primary backup to nose tackle Davon Godchaux.

Last season, Davis recorded 11 tackles, one sack and a fumble recovery over 16 games. Davis played 21% of the team’s defensive snaps last year after logging 26% in 2021. He rejoins Godchaux, Lawrence Guy, Christian Barmore, Deatrich Wise and 2022 sixthround pick Sam Roberts in the Patriots’ defensive line room. Fellow defensive tackle Daniel Ekuale remains a free agent.

On Monday evening, the Pats reportedly came up empty in their pursuit of former Eagles offensive

Slater, Mccourty, and David Andrews.

Others, such as Jones, Kyle Dugger and Rhamondre Stevenson, also have to step up. The next generation has to start to take over some of the responsibility.

“Coach knows the leaders he has in place. They have to be able to bring people together, make sense out of situations when the players are questioning the coach. So you gotta have guys like that,” said Harrison. “That’s why they paid Devin the type of money they paid him. Because it wasn’t just what he did on the field, it was all the off the field stuff. Pulling guys aside, and having those conversations.”

That leadership was put to the test last year, with Belichick inserttackle Andre Dillard. According to ESPN, Dillard chose the rebuilding Titans over the Patriots when he agreed to a 3-year, $29 million deal.

Dillard, 27, primarily served in a reserve role with the Eagles, who selected him in the first round of the 2019 draft. The 6-foot5, 315-pounder is regarded as a talented blocker who’s struggled with injury and consistency. Dillard last started a game in 2021, when he allowed pressure on 8.8% of his pass-blocking snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.

The Patriots also missed on the best available right tackles in Mike Mcglinchey (Broncos) and Jawaan Taylor (Chiefs), who reached terms for more than $17 million per year. The only other experienced starters available are Chiefs left tackle Orlando Brown, who could command roughly $20 million per year, and former Falcons first-round pick Kaleb Mcgary, a right tackle.

As of late Monday night, the Pats’ best internal free agents still available were wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, running back Damien Harris, safety Jabrill Peppers and offensive tackle Isaiah Wynn. ing Matt Patricia and

Joe Judge at the helm of the offense, and plenty of questions being asked internally.

Bottom line: Belichick needs all the help he can get in the locker room when it comes to backing his moves.

Jones gives him that, and more. Beyond the leadership aspect, resigning Jones, an undrafted free agent when he hooked on with the Patriots in 2016, also sends a good message.

Jones might not have broken the bank with his deal, but it was competitive if you look at what the better slot corners and safeties are making these days.

So between dumping Smith and his salary, and keeping Jones, it wasn’t a bad day for Belichick.