FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- New England Patriots rookie cornerback Cyrus Jones, the team's top overall draft pick, will wear No. 24. He understands the significance of the number in New England, with Patriots Hall of Famer Ty Law donning it from 1995 to 2004 and then Darrelle Revis sporting it in 2014.
"Definitely a lot of history," Jones said after taking part in the traditional welcome photo with owners Robert and Jonathan Kraft. "Great defensive backs and great players, two of the greatest players to ever step foot in the National Football League. It's definitely a legacy behind the number and I want to make my own legacy with the number."
Video: Top Patriots draft pick Cyrus Jones discusses the influence his father has had on him. pic.twitter.com/FQCFnqq7Sv
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) May 6, 2016
Jones was born Nov. 29, 1993, two years before Law first joined the Patriots as a first-round draft choice out of Michigan.
"I knew who Ty Law was before I came here, and watched him as a young kid still trying to learn the game," he said. "I definitely remember watching him make a lot of plays on TV."
The Patriots are hoping this version of No. 24 does the same, with Robert Kraft saying, "There's a lot of good karma that goes with that number."
One other note from Jones' introduction: Growing up in Baltimore, he was naturally a Ravens fan as a youngster. Those allegiances have changed, and he's happy to call quarterback Tom Brady a teammate.
"I grew up a Ravens fan, so any time we played the Patriots, I definitely was scared of Tom Brady," he said, smiling. "Obviously he's one of the greatest quarterbacks to step foot into this league and I'm just honored to be a part of his team. He's a winner. Everybody likes winning. I consider myself a winner, so I'm looking forward to working with him and trying to get to another Super Bowl and win it."