6 rings & football things Patriots free agency primer: One star player to keep an eye on & assessing the biggets needs for the Pats in FA
It's looking more and more likely by the day that the Mac Jones era in New England will be coming to an end.
According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Patriots "appear open" to trading Jones and "teams have been calling them and doing work on the former starter."
This isn't the first time this month that Jones' name has been floated in trade rumors. Just last week, MassLive's Karen Guregian, Mark Daniels, and Chris Mason reported from the NFL Combine that it's "expected" that the Patriots will trade Jones this offseason.
A first-round pick out of Alabama in 2021, Jones took New England to the playoffs in his rookie season, throwing for 3,801 yards and 22 touchdowns in the process.
Since then? The signal caller's play has deteriorated significantly. After a sub-par season in 2022 with Matt Patricia calling the offense, Jones his rock bottom in 2023. Over the Patriots' first 11 games, he threw 12 interceptions to just 10 touchdowns and notched a passer rating of just 77, a career worst. Jones also tallied a QBR of 36.7 -- just the 28th highest in football.
Jones was benched four times in said 11 games, and was ultimately replaced by Bailey Zappe as the team's full-time starter heading into Week 13.
“I’m going to compete regardless,” the 25-year-old said following the season when asked if he wanted to return to New England. “I’m really happy to be in the NFL and be a quarterback in the NFL. Obviously this year didn’t go great and I’m going to do everything I can, and have done, to get back on the right track.”
Make sure to follow Mike on Twitter @mikekadlick, and follow @WEEI for the latest up-to-date Patriots and Boston sports news!
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