Report: Belichick, Patriots Could Trade QB Mac Jones
Analysis 4/4/23
Mac Jones might not be the New England Patriots' quarterback of the future or the present. The Patriots and coach Bill Belichick are shopping their 2021 first-round draft pick, Pro Football Talk reported on Tuesday.
The report mentions the Las Vegas Raiders, Houston Texans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Washington Commanders as potential suitors for Jones.
During an interview last week, Belichick said the Patriots were not a contender for Lamar Jackson, but Belichick didn't seem committed to Jones either, indicating Bailey Zappe would have a chance to earn the starting quarterback spot.
>>READ: Lamar Jackson Requests Trade from Ravens
"Everybody will get a chance to play," Belichick said. "We'll play the best players. ... Everybody that's on our roster, if they earn the opportunity to play, then based on what they do in practice and all that, then they'll get an opportunity to play."
Jones struggled a bit last season under Matt Patricia, who served as the team's unofficial offensive coordinator. Jones' poor play led him to seek help outside the team, which upset Belichick, NBC Sports reported.
"There seems to be a conflict between Bill and Mac Jones because of Mac going outside the building to get help, and to some degree, I get that from Bill's perspective," said Eric Mangini, an analyst for The 33rd Team who spent five years on Belichick's staff. "Tom Brady was there for 2o-plus years and never did that. The most he wanted to do was bring in his trainer, and that was after he had won five or six Super Bowls."
Jones' passing yards, touchdowns and completion percentage all fell last season from 2021 when Josh McDaniels was the Patriots' offensive coordinator. To be fair, Jones missed three games in 2022 with an injury.
Still, the Patriots hired Bill O'Brien as their offensive coordinator, hoping Jones would return to his 2021 form when he led New England to the playoffs. O'Brien previously worked for the Patriots from 2007 through 2011 in various offensive roles.
"What frustrated me with Mac Jones is after Josh left with a majority of the offensive staff, (Jones) said, 'Yeah, I've had a bunch of offensive coordinators.' Like it won't be a big deal," Mangini said. "That lack of appreciation for how good he had it that first year, and borderline arrogance to me, was not only frustrating but not going to work in that building."
What might complicate Jones' situation is owner Robert Kraft seems to like the former Alabama quarterback.
“I’m a big fan of Mac,” Kraft told reporters last week. “He came to us as a rookie. He quarterbacked in his rookie season and did a very fine job I thought. We made the playoffs. I think we experimented with some things last year that frankly didn’t work when it came to him, in my opinion.”
If Jones is traded, the Patriots could lean on Zappe. The 2022 fourth-round pick completed just more than 70 percent of his passes for five touchdowns and three interceptions in four games last season.