FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – There's a lot of talk regarding the New England Patriots' depth at the edge position.
After signing Dre'Mont Jones this offseason, it became clear throughout the summer that Elijah Ponder would be playing opposite him. But behind them are two rookies: Gabe Jacas and Quintayvious Hutchins.
However, while the public might be concerned, the feeling inside the room is nothing but confidence and determination.
"I have a lot of confidence. We got a lot of young, talented players that are ready to compete and ready to show themselves, and you got to appreciate that," Jones told Patriots Wire in a one-on-one conversation on Thursday. "We want to see how the season goes, obviously, but I think there's a lot of confidence and a lot to be
positive about moving forward."
They've heard a bit of the noise, but are ready to prove everyone wrong.
"I mean, why would we go out there and think we're not deep enough if we're the guys in that room," he added. "Saying that we're not deep enough is a way of disrespecting us and our abilities, not thinking we can get the job done. But I mean, that's all right. We got to go out there and prove it and prove that the guys in the room are here for a reason.
"We got a whole season to get better. You can't expect an empire with a couple of days."
So does that provide them with extra motivation?
"I think you should play with a lot of freedom. You have no expectations, but no one knows who we can be," Jones explained. "We're so young as a group, and that should allow us to go out there and have fun and play to the best of our ability. Play with that young, naive confidence."
Last season, Jones began with the Tennessee Titans, signing a one-year, $10 million contract. He went on to appear in all nine games with the team, finishing with one fumble recovery, 4.5 sacks, and 26 combined tackles. In November, he was then traded to the Baltimore Ravens, where he finished the season with another fumble recovery, 2.5 sacks, and 17 combined tackles.
As for Ponder, he signed with the Patriots as a 2025 undrafted free agent and truly impressed, going on to appear in all 19 games, finishing with four sacks and three fumble recoveries.
"It's been great. Elijah comes off as a four-year-plus vet," Jones said of the second-year edge defender. "He's very confident in his ability. He knows what he's doing. The intangibles he brings to the game are going to show a lot this year. And it's been fun. He's been a hell of a player."
Then, of course, there's Jacas and Hutchins.
"They still do their rookie shenanigans, but they're growing a lot. They're learning the game more and more," Jones expressed. "I'm impressed at how they've been translating the knowledge we gained in the classroom onto the field. Obviously, there's still more things to work on, and as well for all of us, but they've done a good job of getting better and better every week."
Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook.
This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Patriots’ edge room has heard the doubts, and now it’s time to answer
