We know that Bill Belichick is no stranger to bringing ex-Patriots home, whether that’s players or coaches. So, when identifying possible free-agent targets for New England, checking for former Pats isn’t a bad place to start.
That’s exactly what ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Matt Bowen do in a new piece that attempts to identify the best fit for each of the top 50 free agents this offseason, as they have a notable former Patriot returning to Foxboro: defensive end Chandler Jones.
Jones spent four years with the Patriots after being selected in the first round in 2012, winning a Super Bowl in 2014 and making the Pro Bowl in 2015. The Patriots then traded him to the Arizona Cardinals in 2016 for offensive lineman Jonathan Cooper and a second-round pick (which was then flipped for two more picks that turned into Joe Thuney and Malcolm Mitchell).
Jones’ career really took off in Arizona, as he was named a First-Team All-Pro and finished top-three in Defensive Player of the Year voting in both 2017 and 2019, when he had 17 and 19 sacks, respectively. Jones’ 2020 season was cut short by a torn bicep, but he bounced back with another Pro Bowl season this past year, hitting double digits in sacks for the seventh time.
Jones is about to turn 32, though, and the Cardinals face a cap crunch, so they may not be able or willing to keep the free agent. If Jones does hit the open market, Fowler and Bowen see a good fit with him lining up opposite Matthew Judon, who had a strong first season with the Patriots but faded a bit down the stretch.
“At this stage of his career, Jones fits best in a heavily schemed front, which he will get with Bill Belichick in New England,” Bowen writes. “And the Patriots need another pass-rusher opposite of Judon who can be deployed from multiple alignments.”
As is always the case, it would come down to cost. If other teams still view Jones as a player worth top pass-rusher dollars, it seems unlikely Belichick would shell out. But if Belichick sees value there, why not?
While Patriots fans may view a Jones reunion as an exciting possibility, they won’t be as excited about ESPN’s best fits for a couple of New England’s own free agents. Fowler and Bowen have Trent Brown going to the Baltimore Ravens and J.C. Jackson leaving for the Cardinals.
They do have the Patriots as contenders for Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin if he actually gets to the open market, but they see a return to Tampa Bay as the best fit, even with Tom Brady now retired.
You can read the full ESPN article here (ESPN+ subscription required).
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