Rare dual-threat weapon could turn Drake Maye into the quarterback rivals fear most

Despite being part of arguably the most disastrous draft class in franchise history, Marcus Jones has quietly developed into an elite returner and sensational slot corner.

Well respected by teammates, coaches, and fans for his unselfish team-first mentality and impressive pound-for-pound physicality, the 2022 third-round pick has helped erase some of the painful memories of the Patriots selecting Cole Strange in the first round and Tyquan Thornton in the second.

At 5'8", 185 pounds, Jones may be one of the smaller players on the roster, but he punches far above his weight class by providing terrific production at multiple positions. A two-time All-Pro and team captain in 2025, the lightning-quick Louisiana native has quite literally saved the team on more than one occasion with his nifty return skills.

Plus, Jones has steadily grown into one of the most important pieces of a defense that finished fourth in points allowed in the first year of the Mike Vrabel era.

However, while we've seen flashes of his potential with the ball in his hands, the fifth-year pro has only had five catches in 48 regular-season games.

In past years, you could argue the Patriots’ lack of depth at corner prevented them from being able to use Jones on the other side of the ball. Plus, it’s not as though Matt Patricia and Joe Judge or Alex Van Pelt were equipped to figure out how to exploit Jones’s speed and playmaking ability. 

However, that’s no longer the case. 

Improved roster should open the door to more opportunites for Marcus Jones

Eliot Wolf, Ryan Cowden, and the rest of the Patriots’ brain trust have done wonders over the last two offseasons, bringing in both top-end talent and quality role players. At corner, specifically, they have a homegrown star in Christian Gonzalez and a highly capable (and highly paid) No. 2 in Carlton Davis.

Meanwhile, several young players have untapped potential—including Charles Woods, Marcellas Dial, and rookie fifth-rounder Karon Prunty. 

That doesn’t make Jones less valuable, but it means he could be utilized elsewhere given the status of the depth chart. 

More importantly, though, we’re talking about tastefully incorporating him into an offense led by arguably the greatest coordinator in NFL history and the MVP runner-up from a year ago. 

The front office did right by Maye by trading for A.J. Brown, giving the young quarterback a bona fide No. 1 receiver. Signing Romeo Doubs was also a smart move, as the former Packer should face one-on-one coverage, with defenses dictating more resources to stop Brown. 

Now, McDaniels and his coaching staff can take things a step further by flexing their creative muscles with Jones. Imagine having Brown and the big-bodied Mack Hollins blocking on the perimeter for jet sweeps, reverses, and bubble screens. 

Josh McDaniels could unleash the full playbook by utilizing Jones

Think about utilizing Jones out of the backfield as a matchup mismatch against slower-footed linebackers. Or allow him to line up in the slot in empty packages where he can use his own knowledge of the position to gain leverage, get open, and be a viable target for Maye. 

Even after bringing in Brown, Doubs, and rookie tight end Eli Raridon, you could argue the Patriots still lack enough speedy playmakers outside of TreVeyon Henderson and fellow second-year pro Kyle Williams. Allowing Jones to get in the offensive huddle would instantly rectify that, adding a different dimension to a unit led by a dual-threat star of its own in Maye. 

Just imagine what opposing linebackers and safeties would have to think about if the Patriots break the huddle with Brown, Doubs, Jones, Henderson, and Hunter Henry all on the field. Or, what about a five-wide package that swaps out Henderson and Henry for Kayshon Boutte (if he's still around) and Williams? (Let's not forget about Hollins

Of course, this may just be wishful thinking, but it’s not as if the idea of putting the ball in Jones' hands more hasn’t been brought up before. 

But unlike in the first few years of his career, Marcus Jones is part of a championship-caliber roster led by a very competent coaching staff that knows how to maximize a player’s potential. 

So, if Mike Vrabel and Josh McDaniels go back to the roots of what made the early-dynasty Patriots so unique, l they’ll finally let the leash off Jones a little more and let him join the huddle with Drake Maye and Co. 

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