The Patriots are expected to sign veteran defensive tackle DaQuan Jones to a one-year deal worth up to $6 million, according to Ian Rapoport. If the move becomes official, Jones would give New England another experienced body on the defensive line as it continues to sort out its roster after Week 1.
Jones, 34, entered the NFL in 2014 as a fourth-round pick out of Penn State with the Titans. He spent 2018 to 2020 under Vrabel in Tennessee, then had a stint with the Panthers in 2021 before playing for the Bills from 2022 to 2025. Over a 12-year NFL career, he has built a reputation as a steady interior defender who can hold his ground and add depth behind Milton Williams and Christian Barmore.
What Jones brings to New England
The Patriots need that kind of help after opening the season with a loss to the Seahawks in Week 1. They allowed 97 rushing yards on 22 carries, and the front seven is still a work in progress. Adding Jones would not change the entire defense, but it would give the Patriots another veteran option in a room that already includes Milton Williams and Christian Barmore, while also bringing more size at 6-foot-4 and 320 pounds.
Jones has also produced across the board during his career, with 372 tackles, 20 sacks, 63 quarterback hits, 34 tackles for loss, seven batted passes, four forced fumbles, one interception and three fumble recoveries. That kind of track record matters for a team looking for dependable rotational help rather than a long-term fix.
Roster and contract timing
The reported deal is for one year and includes $3.5 million with incentives that could push it up to $6 million. The timing matters, too. Vesting veteran base salaries are fully guaranteed if the player is on the roster at Week 1, but after Week 1 Jones’s base salary is not automatically guaranteed. That is why the Patriots are trying to make room on their 53-man roster before adding him.
New England returns to Gillette Stadium for practice on Monday, then works Wednesday through Friday before next Sunday’s home opener against the Steelers. If the signing goes through, Jones gives the Patriots another experienced answer on the interior while they continue to manage the roster around him.
