It's a whole new regime in New England, and the Patriots are ready to move on from Mac Jones.
Jones will make $2.8 million next season and has a fifth-year option on his contract worth around $22 million. It's a virtual certainty the Patriots or whoever trades for Jones will decline that option after the Alabama product struggled mightily the last two seasons.
After a promising rookie campaign in 2021 that saw him earn a Pro Bowl selection, Jones completely fell off. He threw for 5,117 yards and 24 touchdowns against 23 interceptions combined the last two seasons and was benched multiple times in 2023 in favor of Bailey Zappe. By the end of this season, Jones was serving as the third-string quarterback.
The Patriots moved on from longtime coach Bill Belichick last month, and it's clear Belichick had soured on Jones. It's possible new coach Jerod Mayo could keep Jones around, but the likelier scenario is New England selects its next franchise quarterback in April.
The Patriots have the No. 3 pick in the 2024 NFL draft and seem like a strong bet to take the quarterback left remaining between Caleb Williams, Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels. It would be more than a little awkward for Jones, who still sees himself as a starting-caliber quarterback, to stick around and back up his replacement.
Jones will likely be a backup wherever he heads this offseason, but the change of scenery feels necessary for all sides.
