The Patriots are expected to add veteran defensive tackle Daquan Jones on a one-year deal worth $3.5 million and as much as $6 million, a move that would give their front another proven body behind Milton Williams and Christian Barmore. ’s Ian Rapoport first reported the expected signing on Friday.
The timing matters because Jones is arriving after a Week 1 loss to the Seahawks that exposed the run defense, even if the numbers were not extreme: the Patriots allowed 97 rushing yards on 22 carries. A 34-year-old lineman with 12 NFL seasons behind him, Jones has built a reputation on size, steadiness and volume, and this one comes with a clear purpose — depth for a unit that needs it.
Jones entered the NFL as a fourth-round pick out of Penn State in 2014 and played for the Titans from 2014 to 2020, including three seasons under Vrabel from 2018 to 2020. He later spent time with the Panthers in 2021 before moving to the Bills from 2022 to 2025, where he started 51 games over his last four seasons. Over his career, he has 372 tackles and 20 sacks, along with 63 QB hits, 34 tackles for loss, seven batted passes, four forced fumbles, one interception and three fumble recoveries.
The fit is straightforward on paper. Jones, listed at 6-foot-4 and 320 pounds, would join a defensive line that already includes Cory Durden at nose tackle and Joshua Farmer and Leonard Taylor III for depth. But the Patriots still have to make room on the 53-man roster before any move becomes official, and that is where the deal can pause. One possibility is placing A.J. Brown on injured reserve after the high ankle sprain he suffered in Wednesday night’s loss; another is cutting one of the backup defensive linemen who would be squeezed out by Jones’ arrival.
The schedule leaves little time to wait. The Patriots are off this weekend, return to Gillette Stadium for practice on Monday, are off Tuesday and then practice Wednesday through Friday before next Sunday’s home opener against the Steelers. If the roster spot is cleared, Jones would add a veteran presence immediately; if not, the signing stays expected, not completed, until the Patriots create the space it requires.
