The Mac Jones era appears to be over for the New England Patriots.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Patriots are open to trading Jones this offseason. Teams have called New England to check in on the former first-round pick from Alabama.
“The #Patriots appear open to trading QB Mac Jones and teams have been calling them and doing work on the former starter, sources say,” Rapoport said. “With a new coaching staff, a fresh start may make sense for all sides.”
This isn’t a huge surprise. Back in January, Mark Daniels of MassLive predicted that Jones would end up on the trade block.
“At this point, there’s a growing assumption that the Patriots will look to trade Jones this offseason,” Daniels wrote. “That plan likely hinges on the type of asset they’d receive for the young quarterback.”
Jones had a promising rookie season with the Patriots, completing 67.6 percent of his pass attempts for 3,801 yards with 22 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. The past two seasons, however, have been downright brutal.
Since his promising rookie season, Jones has thrown 24 touchdown passes and 23 interceptions. His inability to take care of the football has been a major issue.
So, why would teams have interest in Jones? An argument can be made that a bright offensive mind can get the 25-year-old quarterback to return to his 2021 form.
The Patriots, on the other hand, could replace Jones with the No. 3 pick in this year’s draft.