For Dre'Mont Jones, the numbers are impressive but incomplete. Across 108 NFL games over eight seasons, the veteran pass rusher has done just about everything except one thing: play in the postseason.

"I haven't experienced the playoffs since college football," Jones admitted. "So, I'm eager to be out there in the later parts of January instead of just doing—first week in January and I go home and try to figure out a vacation."

That hunger is exactly what drove the 29-year-old to New England. When free agency opened, Jones signed a three-year, $39 million deal with the Patriots, becoming the first player to agree to terms during the legal tampering window. For him, it was about more than the contract.

"I'm going to experience that atmosphere and be a part of something greater," Jones said. "My decision involved a bunch of different factors to come here. From the coach, to the team success and the defense's success. So it's been a bunch of different factors and I'm glad I'm here."

Jones isn't alone in his playoff drought. Fellow free-agent addition Alijah Vera-Tucker, drafted by the Jets in 2021, has also yet to taste January football after four seasons in New York.

"It is unfortunate—you've been in the league for six years and haven't been to the playoffs yet," Vera-Tucker said. "But that's something I'm really looking forward to, and obviously everybody knows it's not given, it's definitely earned. Everything that we did last year, no one really cares, so it's all about getting back there, what we can do now, each individual day, to strive for that."

Coming off a Super Bowl appearance last season, the Patriots made it a priority to address key areas of need. Jones bolsters the defensive line with his pass-rushing ability, while Vera-Tucker—signed to a three-year deal worth up to $42 million—adds versatility and stability to the offensive line. Together, they represent a calculated push to return New England to playoff contention.

"The whole experience of it—I've heard so many different stories," Jones said. "I know a lot of different guys around the league, so I feel like everybody's been to the playoffs except me. I've heard it all, and it's all been the conversation."

Now, both players are ready to make that conversation a reality—and help the Patriots write a new chapter in Foxborough.