Patriots won’t pick up Mac Jones option (source)

Mac Jones will have a clean slate in 2024. Whether or not that’s in New England, remains to be seen.

According to a source, the Patriots plan to not exercise Jones’ fifth-year option. This will make Jones a free agent after the conclusion of the 2024 season. At this point, there’s a growing assumption that the Patriots will look to trade Jones this offseason. That plan likely hinges on the type of asset they’d receive for the young quarterback.

As a first-round pick, Jones’ rookie contract comes with a fifth-year option. For a quarterback, who didn’t hit the ProBowl incentives, the estimates price is around $23 million in guaranteed money. There was a point and time when it seemed likely the Patriots would exercise that option and keep Jones in New England for five seasons.

However, after a disastrous 2023 campaign, the Patriots will allow Jones to head into next fall at the end of his rookie contract. Jones will have a cap number of around $4.959 million and a base salary of around $2.785 million. He’ll enter unrestricted free agency in 2025.

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Under new head coach Jerod Mayo, there’s a chance Jones will stick around New England to rehab his image and career. That being said, there’s growing speculation that the Patriots will attempt to trade Jones during this offseason. What is unknown is how aggressive the Patriots will be when it comes to attempting to move the quarterback.

As seen this past season, the NFL saw dozens of backup quarterbacks start games. Considering Jones’ contract, it wouldn’t be surprising if other teams saw value in a young quarterback, who performed well as a starter in 2021. In the event the Patriots receive a solid asset, Jones will likely have a clean slate elsewhere.

It’s unknown, however, if the Patriots will move Jones if there isn’t a trade market. Does it make sense to give away Jones for little compensation or have the quarterback compete once again in Foxborough this offseason?

At the very least, Jones could be a capable NFL backup quarterback. As seen this season, there’s much value in having ample depth at this important position.

In 2021, Jones put together one of the best seasons for a rookie quarterback in NFL history. He finished with 3,801 yards to go with 22 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Jones earned Pro Bowl status as an alternate, finished second place in the Offensive Rookie of the Year voting, and earned a spot on the NFL Network’s list of 100 players heading into 2022.

Those numbers dropped considerably in 2022, in which Jones missed multiple games due to an ankle injury. He passed for 2,997 yards with 14 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Last season, it got worse as Jones finished with 2,120 yards to go with 10 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. The 2023 season ended with Jones third on the depth chart behind Bailey Zappe and Nathan Rourke.

The Patriots are expected to add to their quarterback depth chart this offseason. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see the team add a veteran in free agency and then draft a rookie later in April.