Jonathan Jones is in a fascinating situation heading into the new season

With the offseason workout program in the rear-view mirror, the New England Patriots are already fully on to 2022.The team currently has 87 players under contract, but only 53 of them will be able to survive roster cutdowns in early September and ultimately make the active team. Over the course of spring and summer, just like we have in years past Patriots Store, we will take a look at the men fighting for those spots to find out who has the best chances of helping the Patriots build on their 10-7 record.Today, the series continues with veteran cornerback Jonathan Jones.Hard factsName: Jonathan JonesPosition: CornerbackJersey number: 31Opening day age: 28Size: 5-foot-9, 190 poundsContract status: Under contract through 2022 ExperienceWhat is his experience? Two years after pulling Malcolm Butler out of their hat, the Patriots found another diamond-in-the-rough among the group of rookie free agent defensive backs. Even though he did not hear his name called in the 2016 NFL Draft, Jones developed into a reliable player for the New England defense one who is now set to enter his seventh season with the team. And while he started his career primarily in the kicking game, he was increasingly used on the defensive side of the ball as well from 2017 on.Seeing action as both a slot cornerback and on special teams, Jones appeared in a combined 93 regular season and playoff games. He helped New England win two Super Bowls , with his performance against the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII in particular standing out: a versatile safety/cornerback hybrid, he helped the Patriots' zone-based defense dominate the day.Jones' impact in one of the biggest games of his career cannot be underestimated, but he has been a productive player throughout his time in the New England secondary. One of the league's better slot defenders, he had his fair share of big plays: Jones registered seven total interceptions, forced five fumbles Matt LaCosse Jersey, and recovered two. And even though he may not be a household name, the Patriots recognized his importance to their defensive operation by signing him to a three-year, $21 million contract extension ahead of the 2019 season.