The Jacksonville Jaguars have reached a deal to acquire quarterback Mac Jones from New England Patriots in exchange for a sixth-round draft pick, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The Jaguars’ No. 192 overall selection (one of the team’s two sixth-rounders) is headed to the Patriots, although the trade won’t be official until the new league year begins on Wednesday.
The Jaguars had the best — and only — offer for Mac Jones as of yesterday, source says. A sixth-round pick for the former No. 15 overall selection. Jones returns to his hometown to backup Trevor Lawrence. ESPN first on the trade.
— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) March 10, 2024
Four teams were in the mix for Mac Jones, who now lands as the backup to Trevor Lawrence with a chance to restart his career. https://t.co/eXkmKitXKE
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 10, 2024
Part of #Jaguars' motivation for the Mac Jones deal, I'm told, is that C.J. Beathard has been banged up. This gives Jacksonville a healthy backup QB option.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 10, 2024
Jones, 25, was picked by the Patriots in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft, 14 selections after the Jaguars took quarterback Trevor Lawrence with the No. 1 overall pick.
After beginning his career with a better year than Lawrence — earning Pro Bowl honors as a rookie with 3,801 passing yards, 22 touchdowns and 13 interceptions — Jones regressed in the following two seasons and was benched for much of the 2023 season. He finished last year with 10 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 11 games.
The Jacksonville native, who attended The Bolles School, will presumably compete with C.J. Beathard to be the No. 2 player on the depth chart behind Lawrence.
With Lawrence dealing with several injuries in the final weeks of the 2023 season, Beathard stepped into the lineup and finished the year with 349 passing yards, one touchdown and no interceptions.
Beathard is under contract for the 2024 season with a $2.42 million salary cap hit. The Jaguars would save $1.92 million if they release him. Jones will come with a $2,785,410 cap hit and is also due to become a free agent in 2025.
