The New England Patriots shocked fans when they agreed to trade their former franchise quarterback, Mac Jones, to the Jacksonville Jaguars, ending the Mac Jones era in Foxborough. This move has been brewing for a while, with Jones' relationship with Bill Belichick deteriorating over the past couple of seasons, paving the way for a new era under Jerod Mayo.
Jacksonville is sending a sixth-round pick (No. 192) in the 2024 NFL Draft to New England in exchange for Jones. This seems like a meager return for a player drafted at No. 10 overall in 2021 and a quarterback who made the Pro Bowl as a rookie.
Jones' journey with the Patriots hit a rough patch in 2022 when the team turned to Matt Patricia as their offensive play-caller. Jones struggled with the changes in the offense and play-calling, leading to frustration. Things worsened in 2023 under Bill O'Brien, and after Week 12, Belichick benched Jones, seemingly breaking their relationship beyond repair.
As for the Patriots' next steps, they are unlikely to rely on Bailey Zappe as their starter in 2024. Instead, they are expected to draft a new quarterback with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. LSU's Jayden Daniels and North Carolina's Drake Maye are among the top candidates.
Alternatively, the Patriots could consider acquiring a veteran quarterback, with Kirk Cousins being one of the options. However, the veteran QB market is shrinking, with players like Baker Mayfield and Russell Wilson already off the table. The team might sign a veteran QB as a placeholder while their rookie quarterback develops, with Jacoby Brissett being a potential fit.
As for Jones, he is looking forward to the next challenge in his hometown of Jacksonville. However, with Trevor Lawrence firmly established as the Jaguars' starting quarterback, Jones faces an uphill battle for playing time this season. He is set to become a free agent after this season, so a strong performance in Jacksonville could lead to new opportunities in 2025.
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