The Commanders certainly appear deeper at cornerback this year.
Last season, the Commanders were returning young corners Benjamin St-Juste and Emmanuel Forbes, both drafted by Ron Rivera. They drafted Michigan slot corner Mike Sainristil in the second round of the draft and signed veteran Michael Davis. Finally, during the season, the Commanders traded for New Orleans Saints corner Marshon Lattimore. He was very disappointing, but also dealing with a nagging injury.
Lattimore, if healthy, will be much better than he was in 2024. If healthy… After Lattimore, only Sainristil remains. Forbes didn’t even make it through his second season. Being unable to play physical defense or contribute on special teams, he had no role. Despite Rivera drafting Forbes in the 2023 first round, he was released. The Commanders chose not to re-sign St-Juste and Davis.
Davis came to Washington following seven NFL seasons, all with the Chargers. He was age 29, and had plenty of time left to provide the Commanders with some solid play. Fortunately, the Commanders had only signed Davis to a one-year deal, because he didn’t look 29. He looked more like 35, a step slow and passive, often in making tackles.
This season, the Commanders have again used a second-round pick on a corner, this time Trey Amos. Early returns show that Amos looks much better than those mentioned above who were released. However, keep in mind, in training camp, Amos has not been guarding Ja’Marr Chase, CeeDee Lamb, AJ Brown, Justin Jefferson, Tee Higgins, or Mike Evans. Hey, he hasn’t even been guarding Terry McLaurin!
The veteran corner signing this offseason was Jonathan Jones. Jones is no spring chicken. He is coming here older than Davis was when he came, as Jones will turn 32 in September. Jones has nine NFL seasons under his belt, beginning his career undrafted out of Auburn.
He has made 44 starts over the last three seasons, was a two-time Super Bowl champion with the Patriots, and, get this, is a pilot. But first, Jones certainly has a history of being much more physical against the run than Forbes or Davis were. Jones told Grant Paulsen on Thursday that he is preparing daily to contribute both inside and outside corners, wherever he is needed this season.
Did you know Commanders DB Jonathan Jones is a pilot? @granthpaulsen found out and asked him about it today at camp! pic.twitter.com/1GzqfuOwpm
— 106.7 The Fan (@1067theFan) July 31, 2025
Regarding Jones’ flying airplanes. Jones told Paulsen he earned his license a few years back with the Pats and has enjoyed taking his family with him via the air on a few family trips. Jones revealed he even flew himself to the Commanders’ workouts in the offseason.
Describing his plane to Paulsen, Jones described it as “I got a TBM, little six-seater Turbo Prop,” that Jones stated he owns himself and flew into the Ashburn area and keeps it here, ready for his return flights.
Jones also revealed his wife is pregnant and in her ninth month, residing in Charlotte. Jones said when he gets some time off, he plans to fly down and “check in on her.” The former Patriot corner says he flew himself and his wife to the Bahamas for her birthday, flying from Charlotte to the Bahamas.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Commanders cornerback flies planes when he’s not defending NFL receivers