FOXBOROUGH – When it comes to Mac Jones and determining his future in New England, Damien Woody doesn’t mince words.
Even though the quarterback still has time on his rookie deal next season, the ESPN analyst and former Patriots offensive lineman can’t see a scenario where keeping Jones would prove beneficial.
Woody thinks the first order of business, along with deciding Bill Belichick’s fate, is cutting ties with Jones.
“I think the quarterback situation is going to have to be addressed after the season. I think this Mac Jones thing has run its course,” Woody told MassLive Wednesday. “What’s happened isn’t all on Mac. The organization has failed him as far as putting the right pieces around him, which is what most organizations do with young quarterbacks.
“But I think there’s a certain ceiling for him,” he added with regard to Jones. “I think he can only take you so far.”
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Woody acknowledges the Patriots are lacking top-end talent on offense saying “they might have the worst personnel of any team in the AFC.”
He also referred to the offensive line as being “a mess.” But the two-time Super Bowl winner says those handicaps won’t likely save Jones in the end.
Woody is convinced the Patriots, who are 1-5 heading into Sunday’s game with Buffalo, will either land another quarterback in the draft, be it USC’s Caleb Williams or North Carolina’s Drake Maye, who are currently considered the top two prospects at the position. Or, they’ll look in free agency, or make a trade.
“Ultimately, I think Mac Jones time in New England is going to come to an end,” said Woody. “If the Patriots are in a position to get one of the top two quarterbacks, I’m running the card up there. To me, that’s a no-brainer. First of all, their floor is higher than Mac’s, and their ceiling is way higher than Mac’s. So you have to take the quarterback.”
Both Williams and Maye are dual-threat quarterbacks. Both have strong arms. Faced with a choice of sticking with a pocket passer (Drew Bledsoe, Tom Brady, Mac Jones), or moving toward a mobile quarterback, Woody said it’s time the Patriots come up with the times.
Dual-threat is the way to go.
“I’m getting that dual-threat guy. The way the game is played now . . . look at all the quarterbacks in the National Football League that are really doing it right now,” said Woody. “They’re guys that can move. They can do it both from the pocket, and on the run. So I’m getting the guy that can do both. They can make a lot of things right. They can make a lot of things look prettier.”
Translation? A mobile quarterback is better equipped to deal with a less than stellar offensive line. A mobile quarterback also helps the receiving corps given defenses have to protect against the quarterback taking off and running with the football. Defenses can’t just drop everyone back into coverage.
Woody said whether the Patriots land Williams or Maye, “if you get those guys with Bill’s coaching and football acumen, that would be kind of scary.”
But will Belichick still be coaching the Patriots next season?
At this point, if the losses keep piling up, it’s hard to know if Belichick will still be at the helm for the Patriots in 2024, or if the front office stays intact. Team owner Robert Kraft might blow it all up. So it’s hard to pinpoint the vision of the operation, and who will be picking the groceries.
But it’s still a good bet no matter who’s in charge, the Patriots will be in the hunt for someone new to lead the offense, whether it’s next year, or the year after.
Three years into his run, Jones has done little to suggest he’s the answer in the present, or in the future. So whether via draft, free agency, or trade, the Patriots will need a new quarterback to build the offense around.
In theory at least.
While the Patriots did little to build around Jones, take advantage of his strengths, and surround him with the type of cast that would heighten his success, the Patriots can’t afford to make that mistake again.
Whether it’s Belichick, Jerod Mayo, or someone else in the command chair, they need to address the quarterback position.
Woody agreed.
Today’s NFL is all about high-powered, explosive offenses. Seven of the current top 10 offenses have mobile quarterbacks under center. Among those are Buffalo’s Josh Allen, this week’s opponent, Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts, Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes and Houston’s C.J. Stroud.
An athletic, dual-threat quarterback offers the kind of dynamic play-making ability that makes the job of an offensive coordinator much easier, adding another layer of complexity to the offense.
“That’s the way they have to go,” said Woody. “Get that dynamic quarterback and add pieces around him. Sometimes all it takes is (a quarterback) to get you back on track as an organization. We’ll see how this thing goes.”
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