Marcus Jones is officially part of the Patriots’ future plans in the Mike Vrabel era.
The Patriots and Jones agreed to a three-year contract extension Tuesday, a source confirmed. The team announced Jones’ extension Tuesday afternoon, but did not disclose any details.
The slot cornerback/All-Pro punt returner was set to become a free agent after the season. He’s now locked up through the 2028 season.
Jones is having a Pro Bowl-caliber season as a slot cornerback and said Monday that he would like to see the NFL add a category for slot cornerbacks to be voted as their own position.
“Yeah, I think it’s very important,” Jones said. “Our play-style is just a little different from the outside. We fit on the run. We also cover the fast guys in the slot. We just try to take advantage of every opportunity. … We just love playing the game of football.”
Through eight games, Jones has two interceptions, nine pass breakups, 36 tackles, six tackles for loss and one sack. He’s also returned 10 punts for 216 yards with a touchdown, leading the NFL with a 21.6 average yards per return.
Jones was named the AFC Special Teams Player of The Week for his 87-yard punt return touchdown against the Panthers in Week 4. He also set a franchise record that day with 167 punt return yards in a single game. Early in his tenure, Vrabel repeatedly stressed the importance of punt returns and field position as a weapon for the team. Vrabel praised Jones for his performance after the win over Carolina.
“He’s not the biggest player, but he’s got great play strength, I think, with the football in his hand,” Vrabel said. “He’s got great vision, and, again, you have to be fearless at some level to catch that punt and know that you’re going to make the first guy miss. We’re confident in that. I think he kind of just — it’s just a natural skill. It’s hard to teach.
“It’s hard to teach with all those bodies in traffic and catching it first and making great decisions with it back there. It’s a lot of comfort with him back there, and we need to continue to make it a weapon.”
Jones was selected in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft out of Houston. He was named an All-Pro during his rookie season when he returned 29 punts for 362 yards with a touchdown. He is the only Patriots player remaining from the franchise’s 2022 draft class.
Members of the 2023 draft class, including cornerback Christian Gonzalez and wide receivers Kayshon Boutte and DeMario Douglas, will be eligible for their own extensions starting next offseason.
