The Patriots chose not to place their franchise tag on cornerback Jonathan Jones prior to Tuesday’s deadline.
The decision allows for the 29-year-old Jones to hit free agency, but according to Ian Rappaport, this does not mean that New England doesn’t want him back.
When asked earlier this offseason about returning to the Patriots, Jones was hopeful the two sides could come to a deal.
The franchise tag his salary for next season would have been just over $18 million, a steep price for a soon-to-be 30-year-old cornerback.