FOXBOROUGH – Eliot Wolf has no doubt been married to his phone in recent days, trying to deal off parts for a favorable return ahead of next week’s trade deadline.
With a 2-6 team that’s rebuilding, and an organization in draft-and-develop mode, the Patriots de facto GM is trying to build up a cache of draft assets.
Wolf already sent linebacker Joshua Uche to the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for a sixth-round pick.
There’s likely more moves to come before Tuesday’s 4 p.m. deadline. But here’s a word of warning for Wolf.
While it’s makes sense to lean heavily on asset acquisition, Wolf shouldn’t just settle for late round draft picks, especially when it comes to what Jerod Mayo described as his “culture” guys in the locker room.
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The Patriots coach was asked Wednesday if there was any reluctance to part with players who are valuable in the locker room, veterans who support and pass along his message as well as the organization as a whole. Mayo’s answer was telling.
“We’re in the business of bringing in good players and keeping our good players,” Mayo said. “I think you bring up an interesting point as far as, like, the culture guys. I do think that’s important. I also would say I think it’s important with the coaches as well, to bring in guys that really believe in the culture and where we’re trying to go. Definitely, we take those things into consideration.”
One player who fits that mold, and might be an attractive trade acquisition for contending teams given his versatility in the defensive backfield, is veteran cornerback Jonathan Jones.
If Wolf can get a fourth round pick or better for Jones, fine. But if he’s dumping Jones for a sixth or seventh rounder, that would be a waste.
Jones is a locker room guy. He’s not the most vocal, but he’s someone the younger players try to emulate. He’s one of the few remaining players who were part of championship teams, so he has that pedigree. He might not be a team captain, but his voice still carries clout.
Someone like Tyquan Thornton, whose name has also come up in trade talks, doesn’t have that same cachet. He hasn’t been there, and done that like Jones. Few in the Patriots room have.
Cornerbacks Christian Gonzalez and Marcus Jones speak highly of Jones, and his impact on them as players. Safety Dell Pettus, an undrafted free agent like Jones, has been taking notes from the veteran corner ever since he was signed by the Patriots.
“He’s definitely someone I’ve paid close attention to, even though we don’t play the same position,” Pettus told MassLive Wednesday. “He’s a leader. He’s a guy who leads by example. He leads verbally, too. He’s definitely somebody when he speaks, I listen to. I pay a lot of attention to how he works, how he studies just because of his success in the league. That doesn’t come unearned. That doesn’t come by chance.”
When Jones was signed in 2016, he made it a point to follow Devin McCourty around and be a sponge, learning what being a Patriot was all about. In New England, that’s been a pattern. Players have always followed the examples of others.
Mayo learned from Tedy Bruschi. Donte Hightower learned from Mayo. Ja’Whaun Bentley learned from Hightower. Brenden Schooler learned from Matthew Slater. Jones learned from McCourty, and Drake Maye is now being mentored by Jacoby Brissett.
“If you want to become successful, follow somebody who’s already been in those footsteps,” Jones said. “I was able to come in and have guys who were tremendous leaders and I just tried to pattern myself after those guys.”
Every team needs those culture guys to pass on wisdom to the younger players. At age 31, Jones has assumed the role. It was the veteran corner who stood up and addressed the team in London after their sixth straight loss, telling them it was up to everyone in the room to change their fate. For a player who isn’t a rah-rah guy, those words held even more weight.
“I’ve enjoyed being that voice for a lot of guys, whether it’s talked about, or not talked about,” Jones said. “I like seeing guys succeed. When you’re able to do something or say something to a guy, and it comes up in the game … and you see them succeed, it’s just a good feeling.”
Jones does believe teams retaining culture guys is important, although he used a different term.
“I don’t know if it’s culture guys as much as its guys who stand for what you want to believe as a coach, as an organization,” he said. “It’s just good to have people like that around to just lead … to have younger guys look up and say ‘Hey, this guy is doing things the right way, let me look up to him and try to pattern myself after him.’ So it’s always important to have guys that you feel like are doing the right things around here.”
Jones, who is in the final year of his deal with the team, is aware his name has come up in trade talks, but says he can’t worry about it. He’s too busy setting the example for others to follow.
“Control what you can control,” he said. “I just show up to work every day, try to do the same things I’ve always done, and whatever happens, happens.”
