Patriots Sunday: Can Marcus Jones Be Travis Hunter of the NFL?

The 2024 college football season is underway. One of the biggest stories so far is Travis Hunter of the Colorado Buffaloes. Hunter is a dual-threat who plays both wide receiver and cornerback. In Colorado’s season-opening win, Hunter excelled on both sides of the field. On offense, he caught seven passes for 132 yards and three touchdowns. Defensively, Hunter played 43 snaps, was excellent in coverage, and added three tackles. His performance has people talking about him continuing to play both ways in the NFL and intriguing teams at the top of the 2025 NFL Draft, like the New England Patriots.

But is it possible the Patriots already have a two-way threat on their current roster in Marcus Jones?

New England drafted Marcus Jones in the third round (No. 85 overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft out of Houston. It was the one pick that year where my live pick for New England was the same as their actual selection.

My live picks vs Patriots 2022 NFL Draft pick (so far):

Patriots Picks
29-Cole Strange
50-Tyquan Thornton
85-Marcus Jones

My Live Picks
29-Nakobe Dean
50-Nik Bonitto
85-Marcus Jones

Note: I was unaware of Dean’s injury issues #ForeverNE #NFLDraft #NFLDraft2022

— Dan Kelley (@DanKelley66) April 30, 2022

Jones played some offense in college for the Cougars. In his senior season, Jones caught ten passes for 109 yards and a touchdown. That said, I had no expectations of Marcus Jones playing offense in New England. I viewed Jones as a cornerback and return specialist. He could be what Bill Belichick once hoped Cyrus Jones would be, though drafted a round later.

Marcus Jones proved an excellent return man immediately for the New England Patriots. Jones earned first-team All-Pro honors as a punt returner as a rookie. He played 37% of the defensive snaps over his 15 games. He finished the season with 39 passes defended, seven passes defended, and two interceptions. But what surprised many, this scribe included, was the excitement Jones brought to the Patriots stagnant offense.

Playing only 18 offensive snaps on the season, Jones was targeted four times. He made four receptions, picking up 78 yards and scoring a touchdown.

Marcus Jones is a defensive back.

His first offensive snap of the season was a 48-yard receiving touchdown 😱

(via @Patriots)pic.twitter.com/o12l9NlZGV

— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) December 2, 2022

Jones didn’t even take the field on offense until Week 11 of the season. So, there were high hopes for him heading into the 2023 season. He was projected to have an even larger role on the defense, with the potential to see more time on offense, too. He showed the ability to make big plays on his own, something the Patriots have struggled to do the past two years. If the big play ability he displayed on special teams translated to offense, opposing defenses would feel far less comfortable and confident going against the Patriots with Marcus Jones on the field.

Unfortunately, Jones suffered a season-ending injury in Week 2 of the 2023 campaign. He returned three punts, recorded five tackles, and was in for one offensive play. But after only 46 total snaps, his season was over. Jones remained sidelined through most of training camp in 2024 and all three preseason games He stayed on the active 53-man roster to begin the season, but it is unclear if the new offensive coaching staff plans to utilize his skillset on offense in 2024.

New England doesn’t need Marcus Jones to be the level of dual-threat player many project Travis Hunter to be. Hunter is a unique, generational talent. Michigan’s Charles Woodson won the 1997 Heisman Trophy in large part because he was viewed as a two-way player. But that season, Woodson caught 11 passes for 231 yards and two touchdowns. Hunter will surely eclipse those numbers this season, barring injury.

RIDICULOUS TD CATCH 😱

Make that three touchdowns for Travis Hunter tonight 🔥 pic.twitter.com/zzohGx3ybZ

— ESPN (@espn) August 30, 2024

But just because Marcus Jones is not necessarily the offensive threat Travis Hunter is in college doesn’t mean the New England Patriots should forget about his big-play ability in 2024. The franchise leaders have repeatedly stated they hope to “weaponize” their offense. They already have a triple-threat with blazing speed and playmaking ability who can do just that. The Patriots are now two offensive coordinators removed from the last time Jones touched the ball on offense. Hopefully, somebody reminds the new staff of the potential in their locker room.

Other Patriots’ Notes and Observations

New England still has two open spots on their practice squad. Signing a veteran quarterback makes sense from this perspective. P.J. Walker remains an ideal candidate due to his prior working relationships with Alex Van Pelt (Browns), Ben McAdoo (Panthers), and Jacoby Brissett (Colts). The Patriots opting to bring back players they cut earlier in the week remains a possibility, though not at quarterback.

Among the intriguing performers from the Patriots training camp who remain unsigned are CB Shaun Wade, LB Joe Giles-Harris, S Joshuah Bledsoe, WR/RS David Wallis, CB Mikey Victor, and DT Josiah Bronson.

Wade returning feels unlikely, and not simply because he’s good enough to be on some team’s 53-man roster. The Patriots gave away his No. 26. Terrell Jennings wore No. 29 for the New England Patriots in training camp but switched to No. 26 after signing to the practice squad. If Wade’s return was expected, giving away his jersey of three years so quickly is unlikely.

New England Patriots RB Terrell Jennings is wearing number 26. Last assigned to Shaun Wade. #NEPats pic.twitter.com/jXcKJp1lbO

— NFL Jersey Numbers (@nfl_jersey_num) August 31, 2024

The lockers of Joe Giles-Harris and Joshuah Bledsoe remained intact following their cuts on Tuesday. However, the New England Patriots added players at both of their positions since. They claimed linebacker Curtis Jacobs off waivers. The Patriots signed Ochaun Mathis to the practice squad as well. But both Jacobs and Mathis are edge defenders, as opposed to Giles-Harris, who lines up on the inside. New England brought A.J. Thomas back to the practice squad at safety.

For now, the prediction here is that P.J. Walker and Joe Giles-Harris will take the final two practice squad slots. If Walker awaits an opening on an NFL roster, veteran quarterbacks C.J. Beathard, Desmond Ridder, and Nate Sudfield are among the possibilities to join the New England Patriots practice squad. Stay tuned.