Jones is entering his fourth season in the NFL.
Even though he is only 26, Marcus Jones is one of the most experienced and longest-tenured members of the New England Patriots’ secondary. Joining the team as a third-round draft choice in 2022, he is entering his fourth season with the club.
For Jones, it will be a pivotal one. Not only will he have to prove himself to a brand-new coaching staff, he also is competing for a new contract; his rookie deal is set to expire next March, making him a free agent for the first time in his career.
Heading into 2025, however, his contract situation is not what is primarily on his mind. Instead, Jones explained that his goals look different in a recent sitdown with Khari A. Thompson of Boston.com:
What are your goals for this season?
“Of course we want to win a Super Bowl. That’s why we’re playing the game. That’s for sure.”
What else are you chasing? What would a good year look like for you?
“My main thing is making it through the season healthy. That’s what I want to do. I didn’t play the last [three] games. I just want to end up finishing the whole season and go from there. That would be a great season for me.”
Are you good to go now? Fully healthy?
“I’m great. I’m ready to go for sure.”
Three years into his career, Jones has not come close to winning a Super Bowl. While the Patriots were coming off a playoff berth when he was drafted, they have since missed the postseason in three straight years while going a combined 16-35.
As for making it through a season healthy, Jones also has had his problems. He missed one game as a rookie in 2022 due to a concussion and had to sit out the final 15 contests of his sophomore campaign after sustaining a shoulder injury. Last year, a hip ailment knocked him out of the final three games of the season.
When healthy and available, meanwhile, Jones has been a valuable player for the Patriots on both defense and special teams (and occasionally on offense as well). Before his eventual season-ending injury last season, he was on the field for 64 percent of defensive snaps while also being once again among the most productive punt returners in the league.
Jones building on that foundation, especially after an offseason that saw him participate without any visible limitation, would go a long way toward New England’s secondary and special teams taking a step forward in 2025. His playmaking potential, after all, is well-documented, and would give the Patriots a formidable starting trio at cornerback alongside second-team All-Pro Christian Gonzalez and veteran free agency pickup Carlton Davis.
Jones also touched on his two fellow starters, among plenty of other topics, in his interview with Boston.com.
The Patriots have a lot of talent at cornerback, with guys like Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis, and yourself. What’s it like working with them?
“CD and I have known each other for a minute, and Gonzo is my guy too. We’re all cool. The DB room, in general, has been together for a minute once whether it’s [Jabrill Peppers] or [Kyle Dugger]. We definitely know what each other’s standard is and we’re going to be ready to attack training camp and make sure that we get the calls and things like that.”
The main thing, when it comes down to defense, is communication. I feel like our communication and everything like that is really good, but it’s a new year and it’s a new defense. I feel like when we’re talking to each other and communicating on the same page, we can be a very dangerous defense.”
In part due to injuries to core players like Jones and Gonzalez as well as Christian Barmore and Ja’Whaun Bentley, New England’s defense fell short of expectation in 2024. There is optimism at One Patriot Place that personnel changes on and off the field as well as improved health could lead to a better performance on that side of the ball this coming season.