The New England Patriots are adding some size to their defensive line. Veteran tackle DaQuan Jones, who is listed at 6-foot-4 and 320 pounds, is set to join the team on a one-year contract.
According to a report by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Jones will sign a deal worth $3.5 million with a maximum value of $6 million.
Jones, 34, started his career as a fourth-round draft pick with the Tennessee Titans in 2014. Over the next seven seasons, including three under head coach Mike Vrabel, he started 97
of a combined 103 regular season and playoff games for the team. After spending the 2021 season as a 17-game starter in Carolina, he joined the Bills to add 59 more games — all of them starts — to his career totals.
In his 179 games, Jones registered 394 tackles including 35 for loss, 21.5 sacks, and four forced fumbles. He also scored a touchdown on one of his three fumble recoveries, and caught the first interception of his career last season.
The Penn State product has remained a free agent since his contract in Buffalo expired in March. He visited the Patriots in mid-August but was not signed at the time.
Adding Jones to the mix will put the Patriots above the 53-man roster limit and forces a follow-up transaction. At the moment, the team has five defensive tackles on its roster in Milton Williams, Christian Barmore, Cory Durden, Joshua Farmer and Leonard Taylor.
The Patriots, who opened their regular season on Wednesday night with a 13-10 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, will return to practice on Monday. They will host the Pittsburgh Steelers at Gillette Stadium in Week 2.
