Entering the 2026 season, no position on the New England Patriots’ roster was a bigger question mark than the defensive edge. And yet, with their first five regular season games in the books, those questions have been answered emphatically.
Even with nominal starter Harold Landry remaining on the physically unable to perform list, the group has played some quality football. Each player’s individual efforts play a role in that, but so does the leadership especially provided by one man: Dre’Mont Jones.
A free agency signing back in march, Jones has taken charge of the room.
“He is a war daddy. He is tough. He fits well in that room,” said outside linebackers coach Mike Smith. “You can’t have a better leader in a room than Dre’Mont Jones.”
When Jones arrived in Foxborough on a three-year, $36.5 million contract, he joined a group in transition. K’Lavon Chaisson and Anfernee Jennings, who had ranked first and third in edge snaps in 2025, were both gone; Landry, who finished second on that list, was recovering from offseason knee surgery.
The expectations for Jones were therefore clear: help the group find its new identity and provide veteran leadership. So far, he has been doing just that.
“We talk about when you build a room they don’t know who the leader is from the outside in because we all play hard, play physical. But Dre is that guy,” said Smith.
“He puts all the time in, and all the work in, and practices hard, does all the right things and never complains. He’s just the same person, consistent. Doesn’t have the ups and and downs. You know exactly what you’re going to get when Dre comes in this building. It’s huge to have a guy like him. Our room wouldn’t be where it is because of a guy like him.”
Considering the preseason uncertainty, the Patriots’ edge trio of Jones, Elijah Ponder and Gabe Jacas has performed at a surprisingly high level so far. However, there is some uncertainty surrounding the group heading into the upcoming Week 6 game against the New York Jets.
Jones sustained a shoulder injury in last week’s win over the Las Vegas Raiders and was a limited practice participant on Wednesday and Thursday. That said, his coach knows that the 29-year-old will do whatever he can to be available for the team on game day.
“He pushes through it every day,” said Smith. “He won’t tell you how bad he hurts or what’s going on, he’s just going to do his job and make sure everybody else does their job. He’s very important not just to this room, but the team and this defense.”
