Throughout the Bill Belichick era in Foxboro, the Patriots were known for using players beyond their given position, even if that meant a defensive player taking snaps on offense. The head coach gained a reputation for seeing strengths in a player beyond their usual duties on game day, allowing the Patriots to utilize countless players in different ways on their way to six Super Bowl wins.
That tradition continued until his last season with the team, and the latest player to fill that role was cornerback Marcus Jones.
Since he was selected in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft, Jones has been sporadically in all three phases of the game over the years, even seeing time on special teams. He has become one of their go-to's in the secondary and their leading punt returner this season. Jones has thrived in every role he's been given, including the boost he's brought to the offense.
He saw most of his offensive snaps during his rookie season, recording four receptions for 78 yards and a touchdown, but he was not put back into the lineup until this past week. He was used in the backfield against the Rams, and although it wasn't his most successful effort, he continues to be a secret weapon the Patriots need to use more moving forward.
First offensive snaps since Week 1 of last season for Marcus Jones on Sunday.
— Brian Hines (@iambrianhines) November 18, 2024
The two plays totaled 14 yards. Worth seeing more. https://t.co/wqxLDrEb8n pic.twitter.com/QH6WDksAZN
Marcus Jones is open to more offensive snaps the rest of the 2024 season, which should happen
With the offense continuing to struggle in multiple areas, it wouldn't be a bad idea to try some new things, like throwing Jones into the mix more than they have this season.
Although he'd like to spend most of his playing time at cornerback, Jones stated he was open to being utilized more offensively if it makes sense.
“It was great. The last time I took an offensive snap was 2022. It was good to be back out there. I’m definitely open to it. Mainly defense, but I’m definitely open to it.”
Because they're not in playoff contention and are more focused on establishing a new culture in New England, it seems like the best time to try out some new plays with Jones is now. The worst possible outcome is that it doesn't work, but the benefits would outweigh the negatives.
It's hard to say doing something that would ultimately benefit Drake Maye is a bad idea, so this should be a no-brainer for Mayo and the rest of the coaching staff to consider moving forward. We've seen how integral Jones has become defensively and on special teams, and that could transfer to the offense if he is given more opportunities in the weeks ahead.