Patriots Add Defensive Help
New England Patriots Sign Veteran Defensive Tackle DaQuan Jones to One-Year Deal
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Key Points
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Pro Football Focus ranked Jones as the NFL’s No. 9 defensive lineman among players who played at least half of their teams’ possible snaps in 2025; he ranked 14th as a pass rusher and 27th as a run defender.
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Jones started all 51 regular-season games he played for Buffalo over the past four seasons and also appeared in eight postseason games. During that span, he recorded 10 sacks and posted a 37% run-stop win rate, sixth-best on the Bills.
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Jones missed 10 games in 2023 after undergoing surgery for a torn pectoral muscle, one of the notable injuries in his career.
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The Patriots hosted Jones for a visit during the summer before agreeing to sign him, indicating the team had evaluated him before the Week 1 defensive struggles.
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Because Jones signed after Week 1, his $3.5 million base salary was not automatically guaranteed under the rules covering vested veterans on the roster during Week 1. New England must also clear a spot on its 53-man roster, potentially by placing injured wide receiver A.J. Brown on injured reserve or releasing a reserve defensive lineman.
The New England Patriots signed veteran defensive tackle DaQuan Jones to a one-year contract worth $3.5 million in base salary with incentives that could push the deal to $6 million. NESN reported the move comes after Seattle exposed a weakness in New England's interior defense during the season opener, when the Seahawks rushed for 97 yards.
Jones, 34, spent four seasons with the Buffalo Bills and brings 12 years of NFL experience and a 37% run-stop win rate with Buffalo—sixth-best on the team. Heavy noted he previously played under Patriots coach Mike Vrabel in Tennessee and is expected to join the team before Week 2 against Pittsburgh.
Run Defense Fix After Weak Week 1 Performance
The Patriots allowed Seattle rookie Jadarian Price to rush for 52 yards and gave up 97 total rushing yards in their season-opening loss. Adding Jones directly addresses that problem—he ranked 27th as a run defender but posted a strong 37% run-stop win rate with Buffalo. IJR confirmed Jones spent four seasons with the Bills, starting all 51 regular-season games.
The move reflects a targeted fix rather than a full defensive overhaul. Jones now joins Milton Williams, Christian Barmore, and Cory Durden in the defensive line rotation. The one-year structure keeps New England's long-term commitment minimal while addressing an urgent mid-season need.
Vrabel Connection Could Speed Integration
Jones played seven seasons in Tennessee, including three under Mike Vrabel, giving him familiarity with the Patriots' 3-4 defensive system. That shared history could shorten the learning curve and improve communication. Freedom 96.9 highlighted that both have extensive experience in this defensive structure.
However, age and injury history remain concerns. Jones missed 10 games in 2023 after tearing his pectoral muscle, and his playing time declined with Buffalo. The Patriots will need to manage his workload carefully despite his veteran experience.
Pro Football Focus Ranked Jones as Top 10 Lineman
Newsy Today reported that Jones ranked as the NFL's No. 9 defensive lineman in 2025 among players who appeared in at least half their team's snaps. He graded at 14th as a pass rusher and 27th defending the run. With Buffalo over four seasons, he recorded 10 sacks and appeared in eight playoff games.
The Patriots hosted Jones for a visit during summer, suggesting the team had already identified him as a potential fix before Week 1 struggles. New England must clear a roster spot, possibly by moving wide receiver A.J. Brown to injured reserve or releasing a reserve defensive lineman.
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