Patriots Rumors: Jonathan Jones Won't Get $18.1M Franchise Tag; NE Eyes New Contract

The New England Patriots won't use their franchise tag on cornerback Jonathan Jones before Tuesday's 4 p.m. ET deadline.

Per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Jones will become a free agent, but the Patriots have interest in bringing him back on a new contract.

The non-exclusive tag for cornerbacks would have cost the Patriots $18.14 million in 2023 if they used it to retain Jones.

The Patriots have only used the franchise tag once since 2016 when they kept left guard Joe Thuney on the one-year tender in 2020. He didn't receive a long-term extension and signed a five-year, $80 million deal with the Kansas City Chiefs in March 2021.

Assuming Jones doesn't get tagged, this will be the second consecutive year the Patriots don't prevent their No. 1 cornerback from hitting the open market. J.C. Jackson, coming off an All-Pro season in 2021, was allowed to test free agency and signed a five-year, $82.5 million contract with the Los Angeles Chargers.

Jackson had ankle surgery during the preseason and struggled in Brandon Staley's defense before his season ended when he ruptured his patellar tendon in Week 7.

Jones is three years older than Jackson was when he became a free agent last offseason. The Auburn alum hasn't had a season as good as Jackson's 2021 campaign, but he did set career highs of 11 pass breakups and four interceptions in 2022.

Given how well Patriots head coach Bill Belichick maximizes the ability of his defense, it's not surprising he would opt against guaranteeing a cornerback $18.14 million for one season when they have many other holes to fill.

Jones has spent his entire seven-year career with the Patriots. He signed with the team as an undrafted free agent in 2016 and appeared in all 16 games as a rookie. Last season marked the 29-year-old's first year as a full-time starter.

The Patriots finished third in the AFC East last season with an 8-9 record. They have missed the playoffs in two of the past three seasons after Tom Brady left to sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a free agent.