The New England Patriots signed free agent defensive tackle DaQuan Jones on Friday. We examine what role he’ll play along the interior defensive line in Foxboro.
The New England Patriots have signed a nose tackle.
A priority position of need for New England this offseason, nose tackle was one of the few areas of the roster where the team did not acquire a direct replacement for an offseason departure. Last fall, the Patriots received great contributions from Khyiris Tonga on early downs and short-yardage situations to plug interior running lanes, but his exit left the team void of a gap-plugger in the center of the defensive line. One week into the regular season, it appears that New England has found their solution.
Here’s what you need to know about the latest addition to New England’s defensive line, DaQuan Jones:
Who is DaQuan Jones?
Tennessee Titans defensive lineman DaQuan Jones (90) celebrates a sack during the Tennessee Titans game against the Baltimore Ravens in Nashville on January 10, 2021. Titans Ravens 131 Credit: USA TODAY Network via Reuters ConnectJones, 34, has been as reliable as they come at the nose tackle position for the better part of his 12-year career.
The 6’4”, 320-pound interior defensive lineman was originally drafted in the fourth round (112th overall) of the 2014 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans, and overlapped with Mike Vrabel in Nashville for three seasons (2018-2020) before signing with the Carolina Panthers as a free agent in 2021. Jones’ time in Carolina was short-lived; after one year, he joined the Buffalo Bills in 2022, where he played the last four seasons.
In his career, Jones has racked up 372 total tackles, 203 defensive stops, and four forced fumbles, and has shown the ability to be disruptive against the pass as well, with 20 sacks and 238 total pressures. He’s registered 20-plus pressures in each of the last seven seasons (including playoffs), with 25-plus in two consecutive entering 2026. In 2023, Jones only played in seven games due to injury, but still racked up 20 pressures and 2.5 sacks. He’s averaged 2.5 sacks per season dating back through 2022.
Jones has started every game he’s played in over the last 11 seasons (160 games), and was one of the standout performers for Buffalo in their Divisional Round loss to the Denver Broncos in 2025 with an 80.0 run defense grade, per PFF.
Jones’ Role
Buffalo Bills defensive end Greg Rousseau and defensive tackle DaQuan Jones stop Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Sean Tucker during first half action against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Nov 16, 2025 at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park. Credit: USA TODAY Network via Reuters ConnectAt 34 years old, Jones wouldn’t be a long-term solution at nose tackle for the Patriots, but does give them a proven player with a more prototypical body type to play over the center — something they’ve been lacking a direct replacement for since the departure of Tonga this spring.
Jones has previous experience playing nose tackle in Vrabel’s defensive scheme, and follows a trend of former “Vrabel guys” reuniting in Foxboro. Coming in on a one-year, $6 million contract, he’s an affordable contributor on early downs and short yardage against the run, with the versatility to add value against the pass.
New England had Jones in for a visit during the preseason, but through Week 1, seemed content to allow Cory Durden to assume nose tackle duties uncontested. Milton Williams and Christian Barmore lead the defensive tackle group, but are typically aligned over the guards and specialize as penetrators, rather than gap-pluggers.
In the Patriots’ season-opening loss to the Seattle Seahawks, the team struggled to prevent opposing rushers from finding open lanes through the interior. Rookie running back Jadarian Price averaged 5.2 yards per carry, and the vast majority of those yards came on zone-running concepts that featured cutbacks over the center and guards. While linebackers Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss both played well to not allow any runs to spring past the second-level (12 combined tackles), those frequent trips into their territory kept Seattle ahead of the sticks and called attention to the hole in the middle of New England’s front.
Prior to Jones’ signing, each of the Patriots’ defensive tackles was sub-315 pounds, with Christian Barmore (315 pounds) and Joshua Farmer (312 pounds) listed as their heaviest interior defenders. Durden (305 pounds) performed well in the nose tackle role last season, both in the playoffs and when Tonga missed time due to injury, but overall, New England’s interior defense was composed of those larger bodies who win with quickness and penetration, rather than space-eating.
Jones will give the Patriots a bit of both, and has the size and experience to play over the center much more effectively than any of the other players that make up the group.
Looking Ahead
Titans head coach Mike Vrabel warms up defensive end DaQuan Jones (90) before the game at Nissan Stadium Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. Gw47036 Credit: USA TODAY Network via Reuters ConnectIt may have taken him until the regular season to arrive, but Jones is in a spot to make a great impact on the team at a key position of need. A veteran presence with previous experience in Vrabel’s front, he’ll be a gap-plugger on run downs with surprising quickness and agility to also affect the pocket in passing situations.
How do you think DaQuan Jones will impact the interior of New England’s defensive line? Drop your thoughts in the comments below and join the conversation on Patriots Roundtable.
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