**3\. Bill Belichick loved him.**
Jones went from having to earn a roster spot to being one of the Patriots' key players, as he spent nine seasons in New England and played in 132 games with 71 starts. It wasn't common for the Patriots to keep players that long, but Belichick loved the energy and versatility that Jones brought to the Patriots' culture.
"He's been a great player for us for a long time in a lot of different roles, including the kicking game, which is where he started," Belichick said of Jones in 2023. "He epitomizes what we want in a Patriot player. Great to have him."
Jones excelled at whatever Belichick and the Patriots asked of him, whether it was on special teams, like when he stopped a punt on the 1-yard line against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 14 of his rookie season, or on defense as a nickel corner. Belichick trusted Jones with difficult assignments, like when he charged the cornerback to cover Tyreek Hill in the 2018 AFC Championship. Hill only had one catch in the game, and Patriots safety Duron Harmon credited Jones' performance as "a big reason" the team advanced to the Super Bowl.
Although the Patriots technically placed a second-round tender on Jones ahead of the 2019 season, Jones never truly hit free agency because Belichick kept finding ways to keep him around. Not long after receiving the tender, he re-signed with the Patriots on a one-year deal and later received a three-year contract extension. At the start of the new league year in 2023, he re-signed with New England again on a two-year deal.
Commanders fans might not be familiar with Jones or his skill set, but winning over Belichick is a rare seal of approval.