The Patriots selected Mac Jones with the 15th overall pick in last year’s NFL Draft. He looked like he may have a future in New England after a solid rookie season, but that doesn’t seem to be the case anymore.
Jones was benched for Bailey Zappe just a few drives into Monday night’s loss to the Chicago Bears. Bill Belichick was mum on the decision but his actions spoke volumes.
Jason La Canfora of the Audacy Original Podcast “In The Huddle” talked about the Patriots’ quarterback situation and hinted that a trade could be coming for Mac Jones.
“Bill Belichick has now created a quarterback controversy,” La Canfora said (3:17 in player above). “I don’t think you go back to Mac Jones. I don’t know why you would. He’s been an inefficient, ineffective player this year.”
Jones played three drives before being benched for Zappe on Monday night. Zappe immediately took the offense down the field on two straight drives for the Patriots’ only scores of the game.
Zappe might not be the answer, but it appears that Jones isn’t either – at least not in New England. Perhaps he could be somewhere else.
“There will be a market for him,” La Canfora said. “There are a lot of bad quarterbacks in the league right now.”
Belichick didn’t do Jones any favors this week either. The quarterback didn’t get a full week of practice and wasn’t cleared to play until later in the week. Then he was only given a few drives before getting pulled.
“Belichick mishandled the situation,” La Canfora said, explaining that Jones’ agent would be smart to ask for a trade at some point.
“That’s where I think it’s headed,” he said. “I talked to a GM this morning. He was pretty adamant that ‘I think Mac Jones will be available by the combine one way or the other, whether Bailey Zappe looks like he’s the answer or whether Bailey Zappe doesn’t.’
So we’ll see, but the Patriots have certainly put themselves in a bit of a quagmire now.”
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