The New England Patriots have a chance to build off of a wildly successful 2025 season after falling short in Super Bowl 60. Despite the team being outplayed by the Seattle Seahawks, the Patriots had a plethora of cap space to add more pieces to their roster. At the start of the legal tampering period on Monday at noon ET, the Patriots didn't waste any time.
According to multiple reports, the Patriots agreed to terms with former Tennessee Titans and Baltimore Ravens linebacker Dre'Mont Jones on a three-year, $39 million contract. It's a move to bolster their pass rushing unit, which did struggle to get to the quarterback this past season with just 35 sacks in the regular season.
Patriots fans may have forgotten, but the team had Jones on the radar for the past couple of months.
Patriots finally land Dre'Mont Jones after missing out at trade deadline
Mike Giardi of the Boston Sports Journal pointed out that the Patriots were in on Jones at the trade deadline last year, but that talks didn't go far. Sports Illustrated insider Albert Breer reported back in November that the Patriots made an offer to the Tennessee Titans, but "nothing really worked out."
Dre'Mont Jones was the subject of trade talks with the Patriots and Titans last fall, but those talks didn't go very far. He can play inside and out.
— Mike Giardi (@MikeGiardi) March 9, 2026
The Ravens were the team who won the Jones trade sweepstakes by surrendering a 2026 fifth-round draft pick.
Jones played nine games for the Ravens, who misssed out on the playoffs after a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in their regular season finale. In nine games with the Ravens, Jones recorded 17 combined tackles (six solo, 11 assisted), 15 quarterback hits, and 2.5 sacks. Before being moved to the Ravens, Jones recorded 26 combined tackles (13 solo, 13 assisted), nine quarterback hits, five tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks.
Jones has shown he can get to the quarterback, even though he doesn't have the sacks total to prove it. But Pro Football Focus has Jones recorded 51 quarterback pressures in the NFL, which ranks 25th among edge rushers in the NFL last season.
This is a huge get for the Patriots, as they look to bolster what was an already impressive defense, one that made life miserable for the Los Angeles Chargers, Houston Texans, and Denver Broncos in the playoffs.