The Mac Jones Era is unofficially over in New England, as recent reports indicate that first-year head coach Jerod Mayo will trade the former first-round pick at some point in the coming weeks. The fifth quarterback selected in the 2021 NFL Draft, Jones beat out Cam Newton for the Week 1 starting job and had a respectable rookie season. Starting all 17 games, the Alabama product guided New England to their first playoff birth of the post-Tom Brady Era while completing 67.6% of his passes for 3,801 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions.
However, the wheels soon fell off the wagon, as Jones struggled to build on his rookie season. With Matt Patricia taking over as offensive coordinator, Jones finished the 2022 season completing 65.2% of his passes for 2,997 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. The team brought in Bill O’Brien for 2023, but he wasn’t enough to save Jones. The quarterback had his worst season to date, completing 64.9% of his passes for 2,120 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions before getting benched for Bailey Zappe.
With Bill Belichick out, the Patriots have still decided it’s in their best interest to trade Mac Jones. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Alabama product’s time in New England is all but over.
“Even though Bill Belichick is gone, Mac Jones – who lost the starting role and ended up third string by the end of the 2023 season – is a trade candidate in the coming weeks and most likely will end up elsewhere for the 2024 season.”
Report: New England Patriots Will Trade Mac Jones
This report of a Mac Jones trade shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise. Armed with the third-overall pick and $69.8 million, this team has the resources to fix their quarterback woes by signing a veteran or drafting Jayden Daniels. Frankly, after the disaster that was the 2023 season, it’s best for both sides to part ways.
Nobody is going to trade for Mac Jones to make him their unquestioned starter. However, he won’t cost more than a late-round pick, and somebody will be willing to take a low-risk wager on a former first-round pick at the game’s most important position. Whether it’s to provide some competition to the quarterback room or just improve the backup spot, these five teams could show some interest in Jones.
Possible Trade Destinations
New York Giants
The New York Giants will have Daniel Jones on the roster for at least one more season, but that doesn’t mean he’ll start all 17 games. The former first-round pick had a disastrous season last year, and it’s not a good sign that Tommy DeVito and Tyrod Taylor were able to match and even exceed his production. Head coach Brian Daboll has ties to New England, so perhaps he’ll be interested in a Mac Jones trade.
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are going to part ways with Russell Wilson in large part because he does not fit Sean Payton’s scheme. Wilson is a starting-caliber quarterback, but Payton prefers quarterbacks who will quickly get rid of the ball, execute plays as called, and not try to play hero ball. That’s exactly who Mac Jones was during his first year in the pros, and perhaps a trade to a quarterback-friendly coach will help bring out the best in the one-time Pro Bowler.
New Orleans Saints
Derek Carr did not live up to expectations in Year 1 with the New Orleans Saints, and they can’t afford to get rid of him. While Chris Olave might be happy with his quarterback, head coach Dennis Allen should know that they can’t afford another season playoff-free season. Jameis Winston is a free agent, and Allen’s conservative coaching style might be better for a low-risk quarterback like Jones compared to an all-or-nothing risk-taker like Winston.
Los Angeles Chargers
Justin Herbert is a superstar, but Easton Stick is not. The team crashed and burned with Stick leading the show last year, and first-year head coach Jim Harbaugh can’t afford to put too much faith in Stick if Herbert should suffer another injury. Back in 2011, Harbaugh took a broken Alex Smith and helped turn him into a solid starter. Perhaps he could do the same with Mac Jones in a trade. While Jones will never surpass Herbert on the depth chart, he’d be a great insurance policy and might even fetch a compensatory pick in 2025.
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are going to be in serious trouble if they lose Kirk Cousins. The longtime starter has a clear path to free agency and, despite his injury status, should break the bank when the 2024 league year officially begins. The Vikings will probably move heaven and Earth to try and get a quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft, but they’ll need a bridge quarterback in the meantime. Mac Jones could be the ideal fit for this role, and perhaps he could be involved in a trade for the third-overall pick.
Main Photo: Eric Canha – USA Today Sports
