"Jones was a third-round draft pick by Bill Belichick back in 2022, but his value resonated with Vrabel almost immediately. Rather than let his expiring rookie contract play out, after an offseason that saw New England commit north of $360 million to future player salaries, the Patriots got to Jones early with an extension - and it might have been the best decision this new regime has made all year."
"The 27-year-old defensive back added yet another big play to his resume on Sunday. His walk-in interception for a touchdown off Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco helped flip an early 10-0 deficit into a game the Patriots never trailed from the 7:42 mark of the second quarter on. Jones' pick-six was the Patriots' first since the 2023 season. The fourth-year pro has entered rarefied air among cornerbacks who double as their team's top return man."
"Jones' three-year, $34.9 million contract with $17.5 million in guarantees, per Spotrac, already feels like a major bargain. The deal places him among the NFL's highest-paid nickels, and as a top-30 cornerback overall, but you don't have to squint to see how team-friendly his deal is; per Karen Guregian of MassLive.com, Jones even negotiated the extension without the services of an agent."
Under Mike Vrabel, New England is using nickel personnel at the third-highest rate in football because Marcus Jones is too valuable to remove. Jones returned an interception for a touchdown against the Bengals, turning a 10-0 deficit into a lead the Patriots kept. He now has multiple seasons with both a pick-six and a punt return touchdown, tying him with historic company. Drafted in the third round in 2022, Jones received an early contract extension after a heavy offseason payroll commitment. His three-year, $34.9 million deal with $17.5 million guaranteed is widely viewed as team-friendly, and Jones negotiated the extension without an agent.
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