Patriots Rumors: Why Bill Belichick should seal the deal for Lamar Jackson

The New England Patriots are in a “transition phase” as the Boston Herald quoted Patriots owner Robert Kraft and that doesn’t seem to demonstrate lots of faith in what’s here now. So what gives?

Clearly, in Kraft’s comments about the team, there didn’t seem to be a resounding vote of confidence in his 24 or 25-year coach and head football honcho, Bill Belichick.

Things are definitely in a state of flux with the New England Patriots, but what will eventuate from all this? Well, for this season, likely, not much.

But if Belichick wishes to keep his position, what should he be doing? Should he stand pat with Mac Jones and company, or should he roll the dice on perhaps the most exciting player in the National Football League, Lamar Jackson?

Since Kraft has seemingly called out the long-time Patriots’ coach and basically indicated that the team needs a playoff appearance (and maybe a win?) or else, then things are indeed in “transition”.

So, in this position, what should Bill Belichick do? It seems clear in this space. While some sources think Jackson is off the table, maybe that isn’t so evident.

The New England Patriots should trade for Lamar Jackson

Rich Eisen of the “Rich Eisen Show” recently called the Patriots “irrelevant”. If any moniker is likely to send owner Robert Kraft into orbit, it might be that one. In addition, Kraft basically called out Belichick and wants a better 2023 season.

Here’s what Kraft had to say,

"“Look, I’d like him to break Don Shula’s record, but I’m not looking for any our players to get great stats,” Kraft said. “We’re about winning, and doing whatever we can to win. And that’s what our focus is now. And I — it’s very important to me that we make the playoffs, and that’s what I hope happens next year.”"

Wow. What seemed to be a given in this space, the latitude to break Shula’s record and then maybe move on, has seemingly been trashed by the big boss himself. So whither Belichick in light of these recent developments?

The answer is easy, Belichick should roll the dice and go all-in on Lamar Jackson, whatever the cost. Kraft himself raised the topic and the ante by citing that a friend had texted him that Jackson would indeed want to play for the New England Patriots.

That was a clear signal to Belichick to go for the gusto, make the deal, and let the chips fall where they may. Here’s why it makes perfect sense for Bill to do so.

New England Patriots coach has nothing to lose

The best reason for Bill Belichick to trade for Jackson is that Kraft himself opened the door to the possibility. That’s a good place to start.

In addition, Belichick doesn’t seem to be enamored with his former first-round pick, quarterback Mac Jones. He consistently declines to say Mac’s his guy. And there’s more.

In fact, Bill Belichick has nothing to lose by going all-in for Lamar Jackson. No one expects much from a Mac Jones-led Patriots team even with Bill O’Brien as offensive coordinator.

Additionally, does anyone think that Jackson even with the massive changes required to manage the cap, etc. would win fewer games than Jones? Hardly.

So in making a mega-move for Jackson, Belichick will accomplish the following. He will be ostensibly following the owner’s implied but unstated preference.

In addition, he will field a much more interesting and dynamic team than he would with Jones at quarterback. Read that: the team will be “relevant” and the focus once more of the entire National Football League.

He also will likely have a better record than he would have with Jones at QB and just maybe, the team will make the playoffs and who knows, maybe even win a playoff game.

So the downside risk for Belichick is that the team finishes worse than they would have with Jones at quarterback. That is unlikely.

And, in making that gutsy trade, he would have almost certainly ensured that he would surpass Don Shula’s wins record in New England and probably sooner than if he still had Jones at quarterback.

After analysis, for Belichick, the choice is clear. Go all-in on Lamar Jackson and let the chips fall where they may. After taking a good look, they’ll probably be stacked on his side of the table.