Mac Jones Expected to Depart Patriots During Upcoming Offseason
The era of Mac Jones in New England seems to be drawing to a close after three seasons.
According to NFL Media's Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero, and Mike Garafolo, it's highly likely that Jones will be playing for a different team in 2024. Despite showing promise in his rookie season, the 2021 first-round pick experienced disappointment for the second consecutive year as the Patriots' starting quarterback.
Even with Bill Belichick's departure, the report suggests that Jones, who fell to third-string by the end of the 2023 season after losing the starting role, is expected to be traded in the coming weeks, likely finding a new home for the 2024 season.
Jones had a challenging season in 2023, finishing with a 2-9 record as New England's starter before being benched in favor of Bailey Zappe. He threw for 2,120 yards with 10 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
Considering the Patriots' ownership of the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Jones' departure would not be surprising. There's speculation that Jerod Mayo and the new leadership in Foxboro will seriously consider drafting one of the top quarterbacks available, such as Caleb Williams from USC, Drake Maye from UNC, or Jayden Daniels from LSU.
Last month, reports indicated that the Patriots do not plan on exercising Jones' fifth-year option, with the decision due by May. However, the NFL Media report suggests that Jones could be traded well before then.
A change of scenery might be beneficial for Jones, who earned a Pro Bowl nod in his rookie year and led the Patriots to the playoffs. Some argue that he was set up to fail in New England due to a lack of talent around him. With the Patriots gearing up for a rebuild in 2024 and beyond, a separation between Jones and the team seems like the most favorable outcome for both parties.
| POLL | ||
13 FEVRIER | 28 ANSWERS Mac Jones Expected to Depart Patriots During Upcoming Offseason Is mac Jones odne in the NFL? | ||
| Yes | 12 | 42.9 % |
| No | 16 | 57.1 % |
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