The New England Patriots reportedly aren’t planning to pick up the fifth-year option for quarterback Mac Jones, who will be heading into his fourth NFL season in 2024.
MassLive’s Mark Daniels reported the news in a detailed article depicting the downfall of the former first-round draft pick in New England.
That doesn’t mean the team is necessarily looking to move on from Jones in the offseason. There could potentially be trade interest, if another team is willing to step to the negotiating table. But Jones could stick around on the roster with Bill Belichick gone and Jerod Mayo leading the charge as the new Patriots head coach.
There are a number of options for the Patriots when it comes to Jones’ role on the team. He could continue to work as a third-string quarterback behind a rookie or veteran signal-caller and Bailey Zappe.
If the team chooses to keep Zappe as the starter, they could also keep Jones as the No. 2 option. Or, they could try at one last desperate attempt with Jones under center as the starter and see if they can rebuild the offense around him.
Whatever the Patriots ultimately decide to do will be tied to the 2024 season, which might officially be the swan song for Jones in New England.
