Is Bill Belichick really ready to move on from Mac Jones? A new report from Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio suggests he might be.
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Citing "a source with knowledge of the situation," Florio reported Tuesday that "Belichick has shopped Jones to multiple teams during the 2023 offseason."
Florio adds that the full list of potential landing spots isn't known, but that teams he has heard mentioned include the Raiders, Texans, Buccaneers and Commanders.
Obviously, this is huge news if it's true. It's one thing for Belichick to not be fully sold on Jones, or to be upset that he sought help from outside the organization last season. It's another to be actively trying to trade him.
And, according to Florio, the window to potentially trade Jones isn't closed yet. Florio notes that teams looking at quarterbacks in the draft, which will take place later this month, could pivot to a trade for Jones if they aren't able to get the rookie they want.
Last week, Belichick once again had a chance to publicly commit to Jones as his starting QB and didn't do so, instead saying that Jones and presumed backup Bailey Zappe will both "get a chance to play."
Also last week, team owner Robert Kraft opened the door to potentially going out and getting Lamar Jackson, saying that Meek Mill told him Jackson wanted to be a Patriot, but that the decision to sign the Ravens star would be up to Belichick.
Add in Tom E. Curran saying on Jones & Mego last week that Belichick is "still pissed about" Jones seeking advice from outside the Patriots organization last season, and the idea of Belichick wanting to trade the third-year quarterback doesn't seem so crazy.
Curran suggested that veteran backup Brian Hoyer siding with Jones and pushing back on the failed Matt Patricia-Joe Judge experiment could be the main reason Hoyer was released this offseason. Hoyer, by the way, reportedly agreed to a deal with Josh McDaniels' Raiders on Tuesday.
Patricia and Judge have already been replaced by Bill O'Brien. Hoyer is out. Perhaps Jones could be next if Belichick wants to truly wipe the slate clean on offense and start fresh with someone else under center.
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