BOSTON — Mac Jones has gone from promising rookie quarterback in 2021 to whining disappointment in 2022 to somewhat of a conundrum in 2023.
On one hand, given the horrible hand Jones was dealt last year with a couple of coaches who had never run an offense before, he should be afforded a get-right year with Bill O’Brien now running the show. With legitimate coaching, and the hope of better weapons arriving, Jones should be able to produce.
On the other hand, there are hints that Jones might be on the trading block. After all, why the persistent trade rumors involving Las Vegas and Jones? Why interview Florida’s Anthony Richardson, one of the top quarterback prospects in the draft?
Just to tweak Jones, and give him a not-so-subtle push? Or is there more to it?
More to the point: do the Patriots want him, or don’t they?
Because they should want him. The best path for the Patriots at the quarterback position in 2023 is obvious. Jones is headed into the third year of his rookie deal. He carries a salary cap hit of $4.25 million this year, and $4.95M next year.
The Patriots need weapons. Jones’ salary allows them the opportunity to get those weapons whether it’s this year, next, or both. Was Jones bad enough to where the Patriots should already want to cut ties, lose that significant salary advantage and trade him away?
Not by a long shot.
Let’s just say the Jets are closer to reaching that point with their 2021 first-round pick, Zach Wilson, than the Patriots should be with Jones. Wilson has been a train wreck for two seasons. That’s why Gang Green is looking for an accomplished veteran (Aaron Rodgers?) who can take them to the next level.
The Patriots?
They need to see more from Jones, gather more information from this season, before hitting the point of no return. Why not see if he can spring from last year’s disaster and improve on his Year 1 numbers?
At this stage, it just doesn’t seem like the Jones’ story in New England is complete.
SiriusXM NFL analyst Jim Miller, a former NFL quarterback who had a stint with the Patriots, can’t see Belichick trading Jones. Not this year anyway.
“Trading Mac doesn’t make sense. That’s the whole reason you brought back Bill O’Brien,” Miller said when reached Monday. “I would think this is going to be a good year of evaluation for him. Last year, obviously, was a step back … but I think he’ll rebound. And I think they’ll put the fifth-year option on him. I still think he’s a good quarterback.”
Having the intelligence and ability to read defenses quickly, and get the ball out accurately, is a large part of the battle for any NFL quarterback. And Jones has those traits in spades.
He might lack big-time arm strength, and didn’t have the best pocket presence last season behind a porous offensive line. But those don’t have to be deal-breakers heading into Year 3.
As it is, the Patriots have decided to release veteran Brian Hoyer. So currently, it’s just Jones and Bailey Zappe on the roster. Zappe, a 2022 fourth-round pick, impressed in relief for three games last season. There’s no doubt he’ll push Jones during camp. But Zappe, like Jones, has limitations that might not allow the Patriots to get back to being a true contender.
Jimmy Garoppolo’s name has been floated around, given his relationship with Belichick. And while Jimmy G is an appealing option in these parts, don’t hold your breath for a reunion.
Derek Carr, who just got four years, $150 million ($100 million guaranteed) from the New Orleans Saints, has set a price point for mid-tier free-agent quarterbacks. Even Geno Smith (three years, $105 million) got paid big money. Garoppolo’s money should be in that ballpark.
It’s doubtful bringing in a 31-year-old injury-prone passer at $30-plus million a year is what Belichick is looking for, no matter how much he loves Jimmy G. What the Patriots need to do, along with keeping Jones, is sign another veteran, which Miller would advocate given the youth of both Jones and Zappe. Or draft a developmental quarterback.
Speaking of the draft, if Jones doesn’t measure up this season, and Zappe proves no better, the Patriots will ultimately have to dive back in. In a quarterback-driven league, it all starts under center. You have to keep swinging in the draft if you don't think you have the right guy.
But will they dip back in this year, or next?
If Richardson's performance at the NFL's Scouting Combine last week, where his athleticism was off the charts, moves him up and drops another notable such as Kentucky's Will Levis, and he's available at No. 14, that would spice things up for the Patriots.
If Belichick is truly not sold on Jones, maybe he'd be enticed by Levis or whoever happens to drop, especially if he manages to take care of the team's biggest needs in free agency (offensive tackle, wide receiver, cornerback).
But with so many quarterback-needy teams, it's just hard imagining any of the leading men (Bryce Young, Stroud, Levis, Richardson) falling to the Patriots at 14. Then again, the same was said of Jones, who fell to 15th overall just two years ago.
And if that scenario somehow plays out, would the Patriots be more inclined to take a chance on another first-round quarterback so soon after Jones, or trade the pick and gain assets from a team that's sitting below them?
Interesting times to say the least.
For this year though, the benefits of sticking with Jones outweigh the drawbacks.
Keeping him makes too much sense. Or, at least you'd hope so.
