Sports Illustrated Predicts Surprise Patriots Player to Make First Pro Bowl

As the offseason continues, Sports Illustrated is already looking right past the start of the 2021 NFL season as the publication begins to predict which players will make the Pro Bowl. When it comes to the New England Patriots, Sports Illustrated is predicting that cornerback Jonathan Jones will become a Pro-Bowler for the first time in his career next season.

One of the reasons why the publication is projecting Jones to break out is because of fellow CB Stephon Gilmore's contract holdout. Assuming that the 30-year-old veteran gets traded, a hole will need to be filled and Jones could be the player to do it.

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Jones signed with the Patriots five years ago after going undrafted in the 2016 NFL Draft. While he was originally put into a backup role, he's been gaining more playing time as each season passes. Jones had his best season to date in 2020, starting in seven games and recording 74 total tackles (new career-high), 6 passes defended, 2 interceptions and a forced fumble.

With the Gilmore situation still ongoing, Jones has a great opportunity to improve on those numbers in a potentially expanded role.

The Patriots hope to return to glory in 2021. After around two decades of dominating the NFL, New England missed the playoffs last year in its first season in forever without future Hall-of-Fame quarterback Tom Brady.

Even if Jones has a Pro-Bowl campaign for the Patriots, there's still some work to do to change some doubters' minds. FanDuel Sportsbook is projecting New England to miss the playoffs at -154 odds. In the event that they prove the oddsmaker wrong, the Patriots' odds to end the season with a Super Bowl victory currently sit +3200 (T-16th).

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