Never a dull moment in Patriots land, is it?
After a report from NBC Sports' Mike Florio wrote that Belichick has reportedly shopped Mac Jones to multiple teams -- a statement not wholly supported by local beat writers -- NFL Media's Lance Zierlein suggested drafting a quarterback in the first round might not be off the table for the Patriots at this juncture.
In his latest mock, Zierlein has the Patriots capitalizing on Anthony Richardson's unexpected slide down the draft board and taking the dynamic Florida quarterback 14th overall in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Now that would be something, wouldn't it?
There might not be a quarterback in the draft with more potential than Richardson, who is literally one of the two most athletic quarterbacks that have ever gone through the NFL Combine process (and he might not be No. 2). He has all the physical tools to be great and even possesses more pocket-movement skills than you'd think from a young quarterback.
But he's yet to ever complete more than 60 percent of his passes in a college season and seems, in most scouts' eyes, like someone who would be best served sitting and learning as a rookie.
Those accuracy issues, as well as Richardson being just a redshirt sophomore coming out of the draft, are likely major strikes against the idea of him being a Patriot (at least at No. 14). Unlike Jones, who was deemed the most pro-ready quarterback in the 2021 NFL Draft not named Trevor Lawrence and turned pro after his senior year, Richardson isn't the first guy you think of when it comes to being ready to play right away. As tantalizing as his skills are, Belichick isn't going to have patience for too many rookie moments, especially ones that cost football games.
Additionally, let's just cool it on the idea that a Jones trade is inevitable.
Though adding Bill O'Brien to the mix doesn't just have to be for Jones' benefit, it certainly feels like a move that would especially help the third-year quarterback given his familiarity with O'Brien and the schemes he'll be teaching.
What's more: it's highly unlikely the Krafts would sign off on trading Jones after investing in his Year 3 improvement unless Belichick could show he was getting a quarterback who's ready to take them to the playoffs now (like Lamar Jackson). Since that latter option appears to be off the table, why would they wantonly discard Jones with no definitive plan for immediate results?
So as fun as Richardson in a Patriots uniform would be, it's probably not happening -- both because New England probably wouldn't do it in the first place and because they're more invested in seeing what Mac Jones can do than someone clearly wants us to believe.
