The New England Patriots recently worked out former Green Bay Packers safety Josh Jones.

A second-round pick out of N.C. State in 2017, Jones didn't amount to much for Green Bay. After starting seven games as a rookie (playing all 16) and recording 67 combined tackles, two sacks, five pass deflections, and an interception, Jones regressed in 2018; in turn, falling out of favor for the Packers.

In 2018, the Packers shied away from his original role (dime linebacker) as their lack of depth at safety forced them to play him further away from the line of scrimmage. According to Pro Football Reference, that didn't work out. He allowed 20 completions on 27 targets for 220 yards and a touchdown on the year (110.1 passer rating).

After Jones struggled in 2018, the Packers brought in Adrian Amos and Darnell Savage to take reigns of the position. He asked for a trade, got into a fight in training camp, and eventually found himself looking for a new team.

Could the Patriots be that new team, and would he be an ideal addition?

Adding Jones isn't like trading for Minkah Fitzpatrick, but he may have the needed skill set to thrive in Foxborough down the line. Bill Belichick and Co. love to switch up defenses, included in that is a use of nickel, dime, and quarter defenses.

Jones would be an ideal addition in a big-nickel defense, where the Patriots sub-out a linebacker in favor of a speedy safety. It's the role he did his best in for the Packers.

However, Jones is a reclamation project (nothing new for New England). He brings obvious coverage deficiencies and missed 11.3 percent of tackles in 2018. Yet, despite that, he's a willing “money linebacker” and has the size requirements (6-foot-2, 220 pounds) and age (24) that makes him an intriguing signing for New England. He'd learn from developing behind Devin McCourty, Patrick Chung, and Duron Harmon as well.