Recall that in the immediate aftermath of the startling conclusion to his rookie season, Mac Jones took an interesting tone.
Despite his obvious disappointment in Buffalo given the 47-17 loss to Josh Allen’s Bills on Super Wild Card Weekend, the rookie almost seemed to turn the page immediately to his second NFL season.
“There’s a lot to look forward to and be positive about and learn from,” Jones said discussing his own leadership, going on to talk about transitioning from being a little brother to a big brother within the Patriots locker room. “You get more comfortable with anything you do in life. That’s my goal this offseason is just to advance and bring all the guys with me.”
And three months later, based on everything we’ve been hearing and seeing regarding Jones, that evolution is taking place right before not only our outside eyes, but those of his owner, his coach and his teammates.
While he hasn’t thrown a single meaningful pass since that low point beat down by the Bills, it certainly still feels like Jones has taken a step forward in a variety of ways as the face, leader and franchise quarterback in New England.
Jones has been out and about in the New England community this offseason taking part in charity events, including stopping by the Boys and Girls Club of Metro South in Brockton, Mass. with a $100,000 donation.
At the NFL meetings in Florida last week Bill Belichick, a guy known to be slow to praise young players, had Jones on top of mind when asked about the leadership future of his team given that locker room mainstays like Devin McCourty are likely in the twilight of their careers.
Meanwhile owner Robert Kraft has been effusive with his praise of Jones, talking up virtually every aspect of his young star’s first year in the middle of all things Patriots.
“I’m a big fan of Mac Jones. I think, I see how hard he works, and he wants everything to go right and he puts the time and energy — and his personality as a team guy,” Kraft said. “So we have a chance. Because without a good coach and a good quarterback, no matter how good the other players are, I don’t think you can win consistently. Hopefully, I believe we have both an outstanding coach and a good young prospect.”
Beyond tying Jones up with Belichick as the foundation of his team, Kraft also lauded Jones’ work ethic and time spent at Gillette Stadium this winter and spring. He added that while Jones may have tip-toed into his leadership role as a rookie, that may change moving forward.
“The guys in the locker room really like him — all the guys,” Kraft said. “I actually believe he has a little more edge than we’ve seen.”
That “edge” could be good and may even be necessary. The Patriots offense is Jones’ to lead. While David Andrews is a returning captain on the line and James White is incredibly respected in his role as he works back from a hip injury, Jones is on course to clearly be the central force in a group of skill players made up of either relatively young developing talent or New England newcomers still in their own early years in Foxborough. To chart a course for offensive and team success, Jones may have to exert his leadership a bit more aggressively this year, as even he alluded to in those postgame comments in Buffalo.
This week Jones added to his early offseason guidance, getting together with Kendrick Bourne, Jakobi Meyers, Nelson Agholor and others for workouts in Tampa and some off-field bonding that also apparently included new veteran addition DeVante Parker. Via Bourne’s Instagram story we see Jones – referred to as “the guy” – right at home in the middle of it all.
On some level quarterbacks are always going to be the centerpiece of any football team at any level. But while some people embrace that role, relish in it and run with it, others never quite feel like the right fit.
In New England Jones was a revelation as a rookie, winning the starting job despite the “aura” of veteran Cam Newton and leading his team to the postseason while playing at Pro Bowl level. Early on he earned the respect and adoration of seemingly teammates and coaches alike.
As Matthew Slater said that lowly January night in Buffalo, “the future is bright for this organization with that young man… Patriot Nation, they should be excited about having No. 10 as their quarterback.”
That future is now. This offseason, it seems Jones’ hold on the role of natural leader and face of the franchise is only growing.
And that’s a key step for the Patriots, even in a slow-burning roster retooling that has the team in a dubious position in the talent-rich, QB-driven AFC.
