The New England Patriots had a very rocky 2022 season. A big reason for that was the regression of quarterback Mac Jones, who was unable to build off of his relatively strong rookie season. He took a major step back, which led to some in New England contemplating if Bailey Zappe would be a better option under center.
While Jones was able to get things back on track a bit in the second half of the season after recovering from his ankle injury, he seems to be on some shaky footing within the organization. There is reportedly some tension between Jones and head coach Bill Belichick, who also doubles as the team’s general manager.
Belichick is looking to alleviate those issues, as the Patriots have reportedly shopped Jones this offseason. According to ProFootballTalk, the full list of teams that have been spoken to is unknown, however, a few have been mentioned.
The Las Vegas Raiders, Houston Texans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Washington Commanders have all been talked to about Jones. Based on how this offseason has shaken out, it is hard to imagine any of those teams being viable landing spots now.
The Raiders already signed Jimmy Garoppolo in free agency to replace Derek Carr. While Garoppolo isn’t being paid top-tier starter’s money, it would be a waste of assets trading for Jones to have him sit behind Garoppolo.
The Texans could certainly use a veteran to compete with whoever they use the No. 2 overall pick on. Jones likely doesn’t fit that bill as someone who is entering Year 3 in the NFL and almost certainly wouldn’t be in their long-term plans.
The Buccaneers feel like they would have the highest percentage chance of landing Jones. If they aren’t thrilled with the quarterback competition between Kyle Trask and Baker Mayfield, Jones presents someone that could be a longer-term option, as he has three seasons of team control remaining.
The Commanders seem content with Sam Howell being their starter right now. They have signed Jacoby Brissett to be their backup and are likely set at the position, for now. If they wanted to make a big change, Lamar Jackson is someone who would be on their radar, not Jones.
With the NFL Draft a few weeks away, this is certainly something to keep an eye on. If any of the teams hoping to land a quarterback in the 2023 NFL Draft miss on their target, they could make a call to the Patriots with Jones seemingly being made available.
