Patriots 90-Man Roster Spotlight: Marco Wilson Has a Fresh Start

The New England Patriots can have up to 90 players under contract during the offseason. Patriots Football Now will spotlight each Patriots player until the regular season begins. Today’s featured player is cornerback Marco Wilson.

Marco Wilson

The Arizona Cardinals drafted Wilson in the fourth round (No. 136 overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft. He was a four-star prospect coming out of American Heritage-Plantation. Marco Wilson played alongside future NFL stars such as Brian Burns and Patrick Surtain II, whose father was their head coach. He committed to Florida over offers from Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State, and many others.

Wilson started as a true freshman for the Gators. He played well his first season but had his sophomore season derailed by an ACL injury that limited him to two games. Over his four-year career in Gainesville, Wilson amassed 103 tackles, three interceptions, and 2.5 sacks.

In the 2021 preseason, Wilson was impressive. He earned a starting spot with the Cardinals opposite Byron Murphy. He started 13 of the 14 games he appeared in. Wilson registered 48 tackles (40 solo), four passes defended, and two forced fumbles. He started another 13 games in 2022. As a second-year pro, he made 58 tackles (44 solo) and recorded his first three NFL interceptions. His pick-six against the Saints in Week 7 of the 2022 season earned him NFC Defensive Player of the Week.

TO THE 'PARTMENTS 🏡@MJW_era x #BirdCityFootball pic.twitter.com/nB0k42P6TI

— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) October 21, 2022

Last season was a step in the wrong direction for Wilson in Arizona. The Cardinals released Wilson on Dec. 26, 2023. He had appeared in 15 games with 11 starts. At the time of his release, Wilson had allowed 51 receptions, 732 receiving yards, and five touchdowns on the season, according to Pro Football Focus. His 41.2 grade from PFF ranked 121-of-123 qualified cornerbacks in 2023.

Wilson appeared in the New England Patriots season finale against the New York Jets. He played 10 downs on defense. The only target threw his way fell incomplete, and he recorded one tackle.

Contract Status

Marco Wilson restructured his deal with the New England Patriots over the offseason. It lowered his 2024 cap number to $2.616 million.

As expected the Patriots and Marco Wilson agreed to lower his 2024 cap number. The Patriots continue to add offseason workout bonuses to their deals. https://t.co/y236JKjNVj

— Patscap (@patscap) March 15, 2024

Wilson enters his fourth NFL season in 2024 but is still just 25 years old. He has a lot of experience playing in the NFL, with 44 games and 37 starts already under his belt. He was brought in as an emergency bandaid last season after the team lost Christian Gonzalez and Jonathan Jones to injuries, J.C. Jackson to off-field issues, and released Jack Jones. It was a low-risk move on a cornerback with experience and upside.

This offseason, Wilson appears to have locked in a spot on the Patriots 53-man roster. Jonathan Jones, Marcus Jones, and Shaun Wade have all missed time in training camp. This has given Wilson reps with the first unit on defense. On 27 snaps in coverage across New England’s two preseason games, he’s allowed only one reception for five yards.

The New England Patriots have depth at the cornerback position in 2024. It would not be surprising to see as many as eight players from the group make the initial 53-man roster. Among them should be Marco Wilson. He struggled last season with the Arizona Cardinals, but his new environment could be the fresh start his NFL career needed.