The Patriots received unfortunate news today as NFL Network reported Jonathan Jones was going to have shoulder surgery today, and will miss the rest of the season.
#Patriots CB Jonathan Jones, who went on Injured Reserve last week, is set for shoulder surgery today, source said. He’s out for the season, a tough reality for NE’s secondary.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 25, 2021
Considering the Patriots are about to play the Chargers with QB Justin Herbert throwing to the likes of receivers Mike Williams, Keenan Allen and Andre Roberts, tight end Jared Cook and running back Austin Ekeler, the injury is not great timing.
The depth chart has taken a huge hit from where it was before the season.
CB1Stephon Gilmore TRADED
Jalen Mills
Shaun Wade - injured
CB2
JC Jackson
Joejuan Williams
Justin Bethel
D'Angelo Ross (practice squad)
SLOTJonathan Jones INJURED RESERVE
Myles Bryant (formerly practice squad)
The depth chart now:
CB1
JC Jackson
Justin Bethel
Shaun Wade - injured
CB2
Jalen Mills
Joejuan Williams
SLOT
Myles Bryant
D'Angelo Ross (practice squad)
Can that personnel hold up? Who might be available to add before next Tuesday's trade deadline? We'll get to that as soon as we tell you the most important aspect of this, and why every cornerback on the street (like Richard Sherman before he signed with the Bucs) is not a fit.
The Patriots' entire defense is predicated by playing good man-to-man defense. Somewhere in the 2012-13 time period, Bill Belichick finally realized that he could no longer continue to play zone defense as its predominant coverage. Quarterbacks had become too good. Even the bad quarterbacks in the league, thanks to the proliferation of the spread and Air Raid offenses across college football and won to even Pop Warner, were much more accurate than the QBs in the early 2000s.
Belichick probably finally realized it in 2011, when Colts backup Dan Orlovsky completed 81 percent of his passes for 353 yards in almost leading the 2-14 Colts to a victory at Gillette.
The following year, Belichick traded for Aqib Talib and then that led later to Darrelle Revis, Brandon Browner, Malcolm Butler, Gilmore and Jackson.
The Patriots became one of the top teams in terms of percentage of man-to-man coverage played in the league.
Yes, the Patriots did nearly win a Super Bowl in 2011 with a slapped-together secondary that played mostly zone defense. But that was a decade ago (passing is much better now), and the Patriots had a historic offense with you-know-who.
The Patriots, especially with a limited pass rush, must continue to play man to man, which limits the players that will interest them (guess a possibly 75 percent Gilmore is looking pretty good right now).
Among teams that might look to sell a few parts at this point, this is my shortlist of guys who fit the Patriots — some are ex-Patriots (it's too bad Jason McCourty just got hurt ... that would be the predictable move, for the Patriots to bring back another old and slower former player):
Darius Slay, Eagles: Don't think he loves former Lions coach Matt Patricia. He's still a very good man corner who is being underutilized in that Philly scheme. The problem is, he has a huge contract that is fine for this year, but explodes the next two years ($33 million, but just $2 million guarantee). Could be Gilmore's successor and you give him more money up front.
A.J. Terrell, Atlanta: I'm not giving him up if I'm the Falcons — he's a cornerpiece — but he's heading for a big raise very soon. His rookie deal runs out after 2023 (2024 is fifth-year option). This would be a more coup. Good boundary size at 6-1, 190.
Justin Coleman, Miami: Plays a very good slot and also played for Patricia in Detroit after being traded to Seattle by New England (dumb move).
William Jackson, Washington: Solid player but not a great scheme fit. Salary gets a lot richer the next two seasons.
Keion Crossen, Giants: A special teams ace who the Patriots traded to Houston a few years ago, he's still a solid corner and knows the scheme.
I don't know if any of these options will appeal to the Patriots. I would expect they go with Ross over Williams for now because he's a better man corner. It's just that Ross (5-9) is short and the same size as Bryant, which makes the Patriots really small on the outside. Perhaps Ross and Williams could be a platoon situation depending on size matchup.
They will probably need to get Wade up to speed quickly, but he's been dealing with a concussion for a while