Patriots reportedly asked Mac Jones where he wanted to go before trading him to hometown Jaguars
"The Patriots told Mac Jones after the combine of their intention to trade him, and even asked the quarterback what he wanted to do."
The Mac Jones era is over in New England. Jones has been traded to his hometown Jacksonville Jaguars for a sixth-round pick.
According to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, the Patriots told Jones they were going to trade him ahead of time and asked for his input on where he wanted to go.
“The Patriots told Mac Jones after the combine of their intention to trade him, and even asked the quarterback what he wanted to do,” Breer wrote. “After working through that, and shopping him all week, New England found a suitor in the Jacksonville Jaguars.”
The trade market for Jones didn’t turn out to be as robust as the Patriots had hoped.
“With a sixth-round pick in its back pocket, the Patriots fished around for a fifth Saturday, before finalizing the deal to send Jones to his hometown for the 192nd pick,” Breer wrote. “The return, of course, isn’t great for a player picked 15th three years ago. But it’s reflective of the feeling that there just isn’t a ton of physical upside there in Jones.”
Jacksonville has Trevor Lawrence at quarterback, so Jones will likely fit in as a backup there.
There have been questions about the 6-foot-3, 220-pound quarterback’s arm strength.
A 2021 predraft analysis piece from The Athletic said: “Jones has average to below-average arm strength, which is concerning because he doesn’t have high-end physical traits that can make up for it.” The Ringer also listed Jones’s arm talent as his “biggest weakness.”
That didn’t stop Jones from having success in his rookie season when he helped the Patriots reach the playoffs and made a Pro Bowl appearance. Jones was touted for his accuracy and decision-making before the 2021 Draft, but those skills regressed significantly during his time in New England.
Having a new offensive coordinator every year didn’t help. Neither did New England’s lack of offensive weapons. Still, Jones played poorly during his final two seasons with the Patriots, and he deserves his share of the blame for that.
Ultimately, the Patriots decided it was time to move on. Jones has a new role with a new team, and he’s back in his hometown.
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