NFL

Patriots sign CB Marcus Jones to three-year, $36 million contract extension

There’s an element of surprise here. The Patriots extending Jones is far from a stunner. The 27-year-old was due to be a free agent next spring, and has become a vital part New England’s secondary and special teams unit. The shocker, however, is the price tag.

Sure, Jones mainly mans the slot and is the team’s third cornerback, but he’s having a career year and offers the aforementioned value as a returner, too. The value of multi-dimensional talents like Jones is higher than $12 million per year, so the Patriots are getting a steal. Jones will only be 30 at the conclusion of this extension, so age isn’t much of a concern, either.

The tide has turned for the better in New England under Mike Vrabel, and keeping Jones around will only help the Patriots ride it out.

Grade: A