The Mac Jones era came to a sudden and abrupt end on Sunday when news broke that the New England Patriots had agreed to trade their former franchise quarterback to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
It’s a move that’s been a long time coming as the former first-round pick’s relationship with Bill Belichick crumbled over the last couple of seasons and the team looks to move forward under Jerod Mayo.
Here’s what you need to know about the deal — plus where Jones and the Patriots go from here:
The trade: What are the Patriots getting for Jones? – Jacksonville is sending a sixth-round pick (No. 192) in the 2024 NFL Draft to New England in exchange for Jones. It’s a paltry return for a player the Patriots drafted at No. 10 overall out of Alabama back in 2021 — and a quarterback who made the Pro Bowl as a rookie.
How did it get to this point? – It’s a long story (one that our Mark Daniels laid out in detail here). But in short, issues started to creep up in 2022 when the Patriots turned to Matt Patricia as their offensive play-caller. Jones struggled, and did little to hide his frustration with the changes in the offense and play-calling. In 2023, things only got worse under Bill O’Brien. After Week 12, Belichick benched Jones and the relationship seemed broken beyond repair. But even with New England moving from Belichick to Mayo this offseason, it looks like too much damage had been done with Jones.
Where do the Patriots go from here? – It’s unlikely that the team turns to Bailey Zappe as their starter in 2024. So, New England is going to get a new quarterback this offseason. The most likely option would be to select one of the top quarterbacks in the 2024 NFL Draft with the No. 3 overall pick. As things stand, the most likely candidates are LSU’s Jayden Daniels and North Carolina’s Drake Maye.
Fanatics Sportsbook10X$100 BONUS BETBET MATCH BONUS
Must be 21+. GAMBLING PROBLEM? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (CO, KY ,MD, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, WV); (888) 789-7777 or ccpg.org (CT); 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA); (800) 327-5050 or gamblinghelpline.org (MA), mdgamblinghelp.org (MD), 1800gambler.net (WV)
New England could also acquire a veteran quarterback. However, those options are dwindling by the day. Baker Mayfield has already re-signed with the Buccaneers while Russell Wilson is heading to the Steelers. Kirk Cousins remains an option. But beyond him, the options aren’t great. Although, it’s possible the Patriots sign a veteran QB as a placeholder while their rookie quarterback develops. A guy like Jacoby Brissett (originally a Patriots draft pick) would fit well there.
Where does Jones go from here? – A source told MassLive’s Mark Daniels that Jones “is looking forward to the next challenge.” He’ll be doing that in his hometown of Jacksonville. As things stand, there’s no clear path toward a starting spot with the Jaguars this season. Trevor Lawrence is the clear-cut starter in Jacksonville and has shown few signs of letting go of his grip on the job. However, Jones is set to be a free agent after this season. If things go well in Jacksonville, he could seek a good fit in 2025.
