When the news broke on Friday, July 16, 2023, that Patriots CB Jack Jones was arrested at Logan International Airport for attempting to bring two firearms onto an airplane, I think every fan’s reaction was the same… What could he possibly have been thinking? The Patriots’ secondary looked to be a potential strength for the team in the short and long term. Now with Jack Jones’ availability in severe doubt, it’s fair to wonder if the Patriots should add to the secondary room. Let’s take a look at the Patriots’ next step at cornerback.
The Saga That Is Jack Jones
Jack Jones came into the NFL with a tremendous amount of talent but also a long record of off-field issues. Including being dismissed from USC due to academic issues and being arrested for commercial robbery of a Panda Express. In 2022, Jones was then suspended by the Patriots towards the end of the season for supposedly missing rehabilitation appointments.
Now with this arrest, Jack Jones is looking at heavy discipline. He’s facing five different charges, including
- Possession of a concealed weapon in a secure area of an airport
- Possession of ammunition without a Firearm Identification Card
- Unlawful possession of a firearm
- Carrying a loaded firearm
- Possession of a large-capacity feeding device
On Tuesday, June 20th, Jack Jones was arraigned and posted a $30,000 bail.
“He had no intention of bringing any guns into Logan Airport that day. He had no intention of bringing any guns onto an airport that day”
Jones’ Attorney, Rosemary Scapicchio
NEW DETAILS: TSA officials released a photo of the firearms Patriots player Jack Jones was carrying in his luggage. https://t.co/pyCpRlLOJZ pic.twitter.com/gCWXpgaEuX
— Boston 25 News (@boston25) June 17, 2023
What Happens Next?
It’s to be determined what the Patriots will do with Jack Jones. The first option is to cut ties with Jones now and move on. Doing so would put a quick end to what looked at one point to be a steal of a draft pick. If he’s not released, a suspension from the team or the NFL is almost a certainty. Now the question is if the Patriots don’t have Jones for the short or long term, who should they add to replace him in the secondary room? Let’s take a look at some options.
CB Marcus Peters
Embed from Getty ImagesThough he is certainly not in his prime anymore, Marcus Peters can still be a productive player as he enters his age-30 season. Peters is a perimeter cornerback that could play opposite of Christian Gonzalez or Jonathan Jones. Rumors have been swirling that he could return to Baltimore or make his way to Las Vegas but that has yet to happen. His price tag may be too high for what the Patriots would be looking for, but he’d certainly be the best free-agent option for New England.
CB Jason Verrett
Embed from Getty ImagesThis one is a bit of a long shot for a variety of reasons. At age 32, the window may be closed for Jason Verrett. Furthermore, he is coming off a torn Achilles that occurred in November 2022. Throughout his career, Verrett has torn both ACLs and Achilles. With that being said, when he’s been healthy, the talent has always been there. If Verrett hopes to keep playing, the Patriots could be a logical landing spot.
#49ers CB Jason Verrett is BACK ‼️ pic.twitter.com/GsVo5QtGYn
— OurSF49ers (@OurSf49ers) October 26, 2022
CB Eli Apple
Embed from Getty ImagesThe 28-year-old and former Bengal seems to still be looking for a new home this offseason. Last season, Eli Apple ranked 37th in the NFL in coverage success rate. He’d be a quality, veteran fit that could mix in with the young Patriots’ secondary room. I’d imagine similar to Peters, Apple is looking for a decent contract but if he’s open to a one-year, incentive-laden deal, it’s something worth exploring.
FS Devin McCourty
Embed from Getty ImagesThe newly retired Devin McCourty could get a call from Bill Belichick to see if he’d be willing to return for one more year. Adding McCourty back to the mix would allow Jalen Mills to return to cornerback, bring the leader of the defense back into the mix and ideally solve multiple questions on the Patriots’ secondary.
FS Duron Harmon
Embed from Getty ImagesFollowing in the footsteps of bringing Devin McCourty back, the Patriots could look to bring back a different old friend with the same idea. I’m not sure at this stage in his career, Duron Harmon is someone you’d want or trust to take on the full-time safety role. Nevertheless, adding him to the mix would allow the Patriots to use Jalen Mills in other roles more frequently. The 2013 Patriots draft pick would be able to come in and seamlessly fit into the defensive scheme.
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