Patriots All-Pro named New England's top 'breakout candidate'

The 2024 National Football League season luckily is behind the New England Patriots.

New England didn't have the season it wanted to have, but there's a new coach in town in Mike Vrabel and some very exciting talent. There are pieces for the Patriots to build around and one guy who stands out is cornerback Marcus Jones. Pro Football Focus' Jonathon Macri called him the Patriots' biggest "breakout candidate" for the 2025 season.

"New Enlgand Patriots: CB Marcus Jones," Macri said. "Jones has struggled to be a consistent part of the Patriots defense as he’s battled injury and fluctuating playing time, but in 2024, he played a career-high 586 defensive snaps, which led to career-high grades across the board and plenty of room to grow. Jones is set to man the slot once again this season, this time for Mike Vrabel and his new coaching staff, which should allow for more consistent playing time as long as he’s healthy."

Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp

Jones is just 26 years old and already has been named an All-Pro in his young career. That was thanks to leading the league with 362 punt return yards and racking up 645 kick return yards in 2022. He appeared in 14 games last year for the Patriots and had one interception, 10 passes defended, two fumble recoveries, and 58 total tackles. There's a lot to like about this kid and he's just another young guy who could end up having a big impact on the 2025 campaign for New England.

It's been a rough few years, but things are starting to turn around.

More NFL: Patriots tickets 2025: Best prices, full schedule, stadium guide for every NFL game in New England