Training camp is just a few short weeks away and to get ready for it, we will be unveiling a 21 questions about the Patriots series relating to the upcoming season. Be sure to check back almost every day to see a new question.
When should Mac Jones be considered for his first NFL start?
This shouldn’t be as complicated as some are trying to make it. It’s when he’s ready.
Not after Tom Brady comes to Gillette Stadium, not after giving Cam Newton a chance to show he’s better than he was a year ago, it's whenever the rookie shows he’s capable of leading the Patriots offense.
Jones is the Patriots’ quarterback of the future, so if he’s ready to start Week 1, he should start Week 1. The Patriots do not owe anything to Newton or anything like that. When they selected Jones No. 15 overall it meant they were all-in on him, so if he shows he’s ready to start NFL games over the course of the summer, that’s what should happen. Newton has been around the league long enough to know that.
As for the Brady factor, it’s ridiculous to suggest because of who the Patriots are playing in Week 4 that they should wait until after that game to start the rookie. Sure, there will be tremendous hype around the game, but it will only benefit him in the long-run getting that experience. Jones seems mentally tough enough to handle whatever comes his way that week and after all, he isn’t facing Brady, it’s the Patriots team as a whole doing that.
If Jones doesn’t show he’s ready to start games during training camp and the preseason, then the Patriots don’t need to push it because they have Newton. In that scenario they can allow things to play out and either Newton struggles and forces a change to be made, or Jones shows enough in practice to earn the chance to takeover.
So, the short answer to the question is whenever he’s ready. Nothing else.