The Patriots discovered another gem in the rough among the group of rookie free agent defensive backs when they signed Jones, two years after pulling Malcolm Butler out of their hat.
The Auburn product has grown into a dependable player for the organization over the previous five seasons despite not having his name called in the 2016 draft.
Jones has played in a total of 87 regular season and postseason games since joining New England, seeing action as both a slot cornerback and on special teams.
He began his career mostly as a kicker, but starting in 2017, he also saw more time on the defensive side of the ball. He assisted New England to win two Super Bowls in this dual position.
In particular, his performance in Super Bowl 53 against the Los Angeles Rams stands out; his effectiveness as a safety/cornerback hybrid in the team’s zone looks was a major factor in its defensive dominance on that particular day.
Jones has the sixth-highest salary cap hit on the Patriots’ roster and the 18th-highest in the NFL for a cornerback heading into the 2021 season.
He is entitled to a $4.3 million salary, a prorated $2 million signing bonus, and further bonuses totaling $1.1 million. According to this framework, releasing or selling him would allow New England to save about $4.5 million in net cap space.
How Much Does Jonathan Jones Make?
Jonathan Jones’s average annual salary is $7,000,000. Jones will make a base salary of $5,400,000 and a roster bonus of $282,348 in 2022, and his cap hit will be $7,701,098.