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Mac Jones reportedly still has some supporters in Patriots organization
Mac Jones lost his spot as QB1 on New England's depth chart in late November.
Has Mac Jones really thrown his last pass as a member of the New England Patriots?
The writing has been on the wall for some time that the former first-round pick’s time in Foxborough had reached its end — even after Bill Belichick and the Patriots parted ways in January.
Whether it’s due to his extended struggles under center in 2022 and 2023 that eventually led to his benching in late November, or the likely scenario that New England adds another quarterback this offseason, Jones has already been tabbed as a likely trade chip as the Patriots look to add more draft capital.
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But based on a new report from ESPN’s Mike Reiss, it’t not a foregone conclusion that Jones is viewed as a lost cause in New England.
In a column posted Wednesday that focuses on New England’s options with its coveted No. 3 overall pick in the upcoming draft, Reiss included this blurb about Jones’ current standing in Foxborough.
“Some within the organization seem hopeful Jones can make a U-turn in New England, but that hardly seems unanimous, which means Jones would have to win over many people,” Reiss wrote.
Reiss added that the Patriots could opt to not target a QB like UNC’s Drake Maye or LSU’s Jayden Daniels with the No. 3 pick due to the lack of support and talent across New England’s offensive depth chart.
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Comparing Jones to Lions QB Jared Goff — who is now thriving in Detroit after the Lions built a stout supporting cast around him — Reiss noted that Jones wasn’t exactly helped over these last two seasons with Belichick at the helm.
“High-ranking team officials point to several Belichick decisions over the next two years — from offensive coaching changes to regrettable personnel moves — that contributed to sabotaging Jones’ development and crushing his confidence,” Reiss wrote.
If New England opts to take the “best player available” as the Lions have done in the past few years, there stands a chance that Jones could stick with the Patriots as they bolster other areas of the roster like the offensive line (Joe Alt) or receivers (Marvin Harrison Jr.).
Even new Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt stressed on Wednesday that “everything is on the table” when it comes to Jones and New England’s options at QB in 2024.
Still, given the lackluster results put forth by Jones over two seasons — coupled with the clean slate that all parties could benefit from — the case can still be made that the Patriots should move on from Jones, even if they don’t decide to take Maye or Daniels with the No. 3 pick.
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