Eagles bolster secondary, QB depth with Jonathan Jones and Andy Dalton
Jones likes to spread his wings
From the Delaware County Daily Times: https://tinyurl.com/2sud2286
PHILADELPHIA — Veteran cornerback Jonathan Jones, unlike lots of folks these days, didn’t have to worry about extra-long TSA lines for his Wednesday flight to Philly during the partial government shutdown.
That’s because he piloted the plane himself.
“I found a passion for aviation a few years back and I flew up here today,” Jones said, just hours after arriving from Charlotte in his single-engine propeller plane for his introductory press conference with the Eagles. “It’s a little hobby of mine that I enjoy doing.
“I flew into Philly (International) Airport this morning. It was kind of nice to have the little approach over the Delaware River. It was kind of a nice touch for this morning.”
The 32-year-old Jones — an under-the-radar signing, so to speak — agreed to a one-year deal last week (financial terms not yet disclosed). The move came on the heels of the Birds inking Tariq Woolen to a one-year contract worth up to $15 million, as they continue to add secondary depth and address the outside cornerback spot opposite Quinyon Mitchell.
Jones’ NFL journey is an improbable one. At 5-foot-9, 185 pounds, he was an undrafted free agent out of Auburn in 2016. But the New England Patriots picked him up and he spent his first nine seasons there, winning two Super Bowls.
He played in 12 games for the Washington Commanders last year, finishing with 41 tackles and five passes defended.
Jones has found a way to stay on the field for most of the last decade. Aside from a shoulder injury that landed him on IR in 2021, he has generally been a durable, consistent contributor. He did miss the tail end of the 2017 postseason, including Super Bowl LII against Nick Foles and the Eagles, with an injured ankle.
“I try to stay grounded, stay as low to the ground as I can,” the high-flying Jones, a native of Northwest Georgia, ironically said. “I’m always trying to compete, and I still have that childhood joy of playing football. I try to be a cerebral player and dissect offenses, understand how they’re trying to attack us, and go out there and compete.
“I think I have a good philosophy of how defenses are good at stopping offenses, and (how to) eliminate explosive plays. As a cornerback for a long time, I know you’re not going to stop every play, but I want to stop the explosives.”
Throughout his pro career, Jones has alternated between a full-time starter and a depth player. He has played both inside and outside. His most productive year was 2022, when he had four interceptions, including a pick-six, 11 passes defended and 69 tackles in 16 starts on the perimeter.
“I love playing football,” he said. “I can’t remember life before football, every fall since I was 4. … I love aggression. I love flying around on the field and making plays, supporting my teammates.”
Asked what attracted him to the Eagles, Jones had a simple answer: “Winning,” he said. “You watch week in and week out, they find ways to win. That’s so hard to do in this league.
“I kind of admired what this team’s been building over the last few years, some of the dominance they’ve been showing, year in and year out. … A lot of teams will be in the playoffs one year and then you may not hear from them for three or four years.”
Jones also expressed admiration for Mitchell and Cooper DeJean,
“They’re some really, really good young players who have already established themselves in the league, made a lot of plays,” he said. “I think I can be of help to those guys, help them build in their careers, because they have promising futures.”
Jones worked with Eagles secondary coach Mike Pellegrino when both men were in New England. The corner called Pellegrino “one of the hardest working men in football.”
Eagles acquire QB Andy Dalton
Another import from North Carolina Wednesday was journeyman quarterback Andy Dalton, whom the Eagles got from the Panthers in exchange for a 2027 seventh-round pick.
Dalton is entering the second year of a two-year deal and is reportedly guaranteed $4 million. He will compete for a third-string spot, or perhaps second string, though the Eagles still think highly of backup QB Tanner McKee.
Dalton, 38, was a second-round pick out of TCU by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2011. He quickly emerged as a starter in Cincinnati, compiling a 70-61-2 record over nine seasons and leading the Bengals to four consecutive playoff berths while earning three Pro Bowl honors. Since then, he has played for the Cowboys, Saints, Bears and Carolina.
Follow Christiaan DeFranco on X and Threads at @the_defranc.