Mac Jones appears to be the latest young quarterback headed for a fresh start.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the New England Patriots are open to trading Jones as they have been fielding calls from teams interested in the quarterback.
The Patriots selected Jones in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft, and the former Alabama quarterback immediately became the starter in New England. Jones helped lead the Patriots to the playoffs in his rookie season, throwing for 3,801 yards, with 22 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.
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However, Jones has had a difficult past two seasons. The quarterback started 25 games in New England since 2022, throwing for just 25 touchdowns and 23 interceptions in that span. He even found himself in the middle of a quarterback controversy with 2022 draft pick Bailey Zappe along the way.
It is not a surprise that the Patriots are looking to move on, as Jones’s third season went haywire. SI’s Albert Breer reported in February that the Patriots’ quarterback room got “toxic,” as Zappe watched film in the wide receivers room instead.
Jones has one year left on his rookie contract, but any team that acquires him could pick up his fifth-year option if they’d like.
New England owns the No. 3 pick in this year’s draft, giving them a good opportunity to draft a franchise quarterback. Regardless of whether they choose to draft a quarterback in 2024, they will likely have a new signal-caller at the helm this season.
