The Mac Jones era in New England has come to a close
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – NOVEMBER 26: Mac Jones #10 of the New England Patriots looks on prior to a game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on November 26, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
The Mac Jones era in New England has come to a close. On Sunday, the New England Patriots officially moved on from their 2021 first-round pick.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Patriots are trading Jones to the Jacksonville Jaguars. The trade will not be officially processed until Wednesday, when the new league year begins.
READ MORE:
—The Patriots’ 2024 draft picks are set
—Patriots Super Bowl hero confirms NFL retirement
—Patriots sign former Steelers starting tackle
In return for trading Jones, the Patriots will get a sixth-round pick. It’s not clear yet exactly what pick that will be – Jacksonville currently owns two sixth-round picks, 192nd and 212th overall.
Jones, 25, was drafted by the Patriots in the first round, 15th overall out of Alabama. He was the fifth quarterback selected. His rookie season was encouraging, as he led the team to a 10-7 record and Wild Card playoff berth while throwing or 3,801 yards and 22 touchdowns with 13 interceptions.
However, Jones never returned to that level of play following the departure of offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. In 2022 in an offense ran by former defensive coordinator Matt Patricia Jones threw 14 touchdowns and 11 interceptions while the Patriots went 6-8 in the 14 games he started (he missed time early in the season with an ankle injury). This past year things didn’t improve under new OC Bill O’Brien, as Jones threw for 10 touchdowns with 12 interceptions and went 2-9 in 11 starts before losing the starting job after the bye week.
By trading Jones, the Patriots have fully opened the door to starting over in trying to find a new franchise quarterback. They hold the third overall pick in a draft where the top three picks are all expected to be quarterbacks. The Patriots are also reportedly interested in adding a veteran backup quarterback in free agency. Currently they have two quarterbacks on their roster – last year’s backup/late-season starter Bailey Zappe, and late-season waiver claim Nathan Rourke, who the team re-signed earlier this offseason.
As for Jones, he returns to his hometown of Jacksonville where he’ll likely back up a fellow member of his 2021 draft class – first overall pick Trevor Lawrence. Assuming the Jaguars don’t pick up Jones’ fifth-year option by the early May deadline, he’ll be a free agent next spring.
