2022 was a roller coaster ride for the New England Patriots at the quarterback position. Mac Jones regressed in Year 2, which has brought up some questions about whether or not he is the quarterback of the future for the franchise.
After a brutal start to the season, Jones suffered an injury that kept him sidelined for three games. He was benched during Monday Night Football against the Chicago Bears in Week 7 upon his return, which was the low point of the season.
From that point on, Jones did get things back on track to some degree. There were some inconsistencies at points but it wasn’t the trainwreck from earlier in the season when he threw five interceptions in his first three starts of the season. Despite that, head coach Bill Belichick still wouldn’t fully commit to Jones being the starter in 2023.
That has led to speculation about what the future could hold for the 2021 first-round pick. Could New England really look to make a change at the quarterback position? While he did struggle at times last season, some of the blame can certainly be placed on underwhelming coaching and a sometimes underwhelming supporting cast.
But, the team also played just as well with Bailey Zappe under center. He is very much in the running to be the starter in 2023. Also, there is the possibility Belichick brings in a veteran he likes, such as Jimmy Garoppolo, which would also result in Jones being on the move. Where could the Alabama product end up? One potential landing spot is with the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Raiders are coached by Josh McDaniels, who was the Patriots’ offensive coordinator during Jones’ rookie season. In the market for a long-term answer at quarterback, Jones could be a fit in Sin City.
What would it take to acquire him? New England will probably ask for a first-round pick, but it is hard to imagine the Raiders giving up that much for him. A second, third and fifth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft from Las Vegas in exchange for Jones could get the job done.
The Patriots receive three draft picks, which is a solid haul given Jones’ perceived value around the league. The Raiders get who they hope is their quarterback of the future to replace Derek Carr. Acquiring Jones is a much cheaper alternative to going after someone such as Aaron Rodgers for Las Vegas as well.