Could the New England Patriots deal Mac Jones out of the program?
Things are getting interesting for the franchise as it is not picking up a fifth-year option on Jones.
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According to Mark Daniels, a Patriots’ beat reporter for Massachusetts Live, Jones will have a clean slate in 2024.
In it not exercising his fifth-year option, the Patriots could choose to trade him after the 2024 season. It has not worked out for the University of Alabama alumnus in New England since his rookie season. Jones has struggled in back-to-back years, and Bill Belichick did not make matters better for him. New England finished 4-13 in 2023, earning a high first-round draft pick that Jerod Mayo — the Patriots’ new head coach — could use on a quarterback. Jones finished last year with 2,120 passing yards, 10 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. It has been frustrating for the former No. 15 overall selection of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Jones, a native of Jacksonville, Fla., was a two-time College Football Playoff National Champion at Alabama. He came to the Crimson Tide as a three-star in the 2017 recruiting class, but Jones transformed himself into a champion. In his lone season as a starting quarterback, Jones set records for passing yards (4,500) and touchdown passes (41) in 2020 — leading the Tide to an undefeated CFP National Championship season. Assumptions have grown on the Patriots possibly trading Jones this offseason.
We shall see what happens.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
