After nine seasons with the New England Patriots, former Auburn cornerback Jonathan Jones is changing teams in NFL free agency.

Jones is joining the Washington Commanders for the 2025 season on a one-year contract, the Boston Herald and ESPN reported on Wednesday. Terms were not disclosed.

Jones’ departure comes after the Patriots agreed on a three-year, $54 million contract with another free-agent cornerback from Auburn, Carlton Davis, this week.

In 2024, Jones played in every New England game and was on the field for 712 defensive snaps and four special-team plays. Jones recorded 58 tackles, six passes defended and two forced fumbles.

Of Washington’s top two outside corners last season, Benjamin St-Juste has left for the Los Angeles Chargers and former Auburn standout Noah Igbinoghene became an unrestricted free agent on Wednesday.

Jones joined the Patriots as a free-agent rookie 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.

Jones returned from the injury in 2022 as an every-game starter in the New England secondary. Jones had 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.

Jones played in eight postseason games with the Patriots.

As a rookie, he was on the field for 22 special-teams plays in New England’s 34-28 overtime victory against the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI on Feb. 5, 2017.

An injury prevented Jones from playing in Super Bowl LII to cap the 2017 season, and New England lost to the Philadelphia Eagles 41-33 in the NFL championship game.

For 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.

In 132 regular-season games, Jones has recorded 436 tackles, 11 interceptions, 57 passes defended, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

Jones became a free agent after completing a two-year, $19 million contract.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.