Almost 10 years after he entered the NFL as an undrafted rookie, Jonathan Jones has a team for his 11th season. After becoming an unrestricted free agent on Wednesday, the former Auburn defensive back has reached an agreement on a one-year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles for the 2026 NFL campaign.
In 2025, Jones played in 12 games, with seven starts, for the Washington Commanders. He had an injured-reserve stint because of a hamstring injury.
Jones had 41 tackles, five passes defended and one sack. Opposing passers completed 26-of-43 passes for 359 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions for an 87.3 passing-efficiency rating when targeting receivers covered by Jones in 2025.
Jones joins a team with a strong first line on its cornerback depth chart. Outside corner Quinyon Mitchell and slot corner Cooper DeJean were Pro Bowl selections in 2025, and Philadelphia added former Pro Bowler Riq Woolen in free agency this week.
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With 144 NFL regular-season games, Jones has played in more than any other defensive back from Auburn. He surpassed the 133 games of Carlos Rogers last season.
Jones also has played in eight playoff games, including two Super Bowl victories.
Jones signed with the New England Patriots in 2016. He had gone undrafted even though he ran a 4.33-second 40-yard dash at that year’s NFL Scouting Combine.
As a rookie, Jones got on the field for 64 defensive snaps and 307 special-teams plays. In each of the next four seasons – until a shoulder injury limited him to six games in 2021 – Jones’ defensive snaps increased and his special-teams appearances decreased.
As he transitioned from a special-teamer, Jones developed into the Patriots’ regular slot corner, then showed versatility beyond that role. After the departure of Pro Bowler J.C. Jackson in free agency, Jones stepped into the vacated outside-corner spot in the 2022 season. He played a career-high 894 defensive snaps while posting career bests with four interceptions, 11 passes defended and three forced fumbles and making 69 tackles.
During the 2018 postseason, Jones shadowed Kansas City Chiefs All-Pro wide receiver Tyreek Hill in the AFC Championship Game, then switched to safety for a special defensive scheme that led to a 13-3 victory over the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII.
Jones had played on special teams two years earlier when the Patriots defeated the Atlanta Falcons 34-28 in overtime in Super Bowl LI.
After nine seasons with New England, Jones joined the Commanders as a free agent last offseason for a one-year, $5.5 million contract.
Jones’ move to Philadelphia has not been reported by the team, but was reported on Thursday night by NFL Network, NBC Sports Philadelphia and NJ.com.