Mac Jones might not be the future of the New England Patriots at the quarterback position after all. According to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, the Pats have shopped Jones to “multiple teams” this offseason and would be open to parting ways with the Alabama quarterback.
Florio adds that head coach Bill Belichick is the main driving force between attempts to trade Jones. Several names are mentioned as potential suitors, including the Las Vegas Raiders, the Houston Texans, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the Washington Commanders.
The news that Jones is available in trade talks is a surprise considering how certain the Patriots seemed that he would be their guy for years to come. However, the player’s struggles in 2022 apparently got Belichick to rethink his stance.
Mac Jones, who was drafted in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, earned a Pro Bowl nod and led the Pats to playoffs in his rookie season. But his sophomore campaign was such a disaster that he was even benched at one point. Jones went 6-8 in his 14 games as a starter and finished 2022 with 2,997 passing yards, 14 touchdowns, and 11 picks.
It is unclear how New England plans to address its quarterback position if they trade Jones. Some reports linked the franchise with former MVP Lamar Jackson, but sources say this isn’t a realistic option. Besides Jones, the Patriots have last year’s fourth-round pick Bailey Zappe as part of their QB room.
