Patriots waive CB Jack Jones: Why now?

The New England Patriots waived cornerback Jack Jones, the team announced Monday. Here’s what you need to know:

• Jones played in four games this season and logged just 10 defensive snaps in Sunday’s loss to the Colts.
• The second-year cornerback played 13 games for the Patriots during his rookie season, recording two interceptions, one he returned for a touchdown, six passes defended, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
• The Patriots are 2-8 this season and have lost their last three games.

The Patriots' 2022 draft class:
Cole Strange: starter
Tyquan Thornton: 3 catches all season
Marcus Jones: injured
Jack Jones: cut
Pierre Strong: traded
Bailey Zappe: cut then re-signed as backup
Kevin Harris: P-squad
Sam Roberts: backup
Chasen Hines: cut
Andrew Stueber: P-squad

— Chad Graff (@ChadGraff) November 13, 2023

Why now?

The Patriots tried so hard (maybe too hard) to make it work with Jones. He had fallen to them in the fourth round of last year’s draft over character concerns following Jones’ arrest and subsequent guilty plea in college for burglary of a Panda Express restaurant. Then this offseason he was arrested for allegedly bringing loaded guns to Boston Logan Airport. The charges were dropped when Jones agreed to one year of pre-trial probation.

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The Patriots backed him through all of that because they liked his coverage skills as a cornerback. The team never suspended him over those charges. But in recent weeks, the situation became untenable. The Patriots benched Jones for the first two drives in last week’s game against Washington for showing up late to the team hotel before the game. But they were disappointed when, instead of responding as they hoped, Jones sulked on the bench alone while the defense was on the field.

Jones was then again benched the first two drives of the team’s next game, and did the same, sitting alone in a large trench coat during the start of the Patriots’ game in Germany on Sunday. Finally, upon coming back from Europe, the Patriots decided that his behavior wasn’t worth his on-field performances. — Chad Graff, Patriots staff writer

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What this means for New England

The Patriots’ 2022 draft class could go down as one of their worst ever. They chose 10 players that year, including six in the first four rounds. Yet 18 months later, the Patriots have already cut or traded six of those players (though one of them, Bailey Zappe, is back with the team).

Cole Strange, the left guard who was their surprising first-round pick, is the only starter of the class. Second-round pick Tyquan Thornton looks like a bust as the wide receiver has already been a healthy scratch this season and has only three catches. Third-round pick Marcus Jones will miss most of the season due to an injury. And now Jack Jones exits the team amid turmoil. — Graff

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(Photo: Nick Cammett / Diamond Images via Getty Images)