After weeks of speculation and rumors, the Mac Jones era has officially ended in New England. On Sunday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Patriots are finalizing a deal to send Jones to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Trade: Patriots are finalizing a deal to send QB Mac Jones to the Jacksonville Jaguars, sources tell ESPN. The trade cannot be processed until the new league year begins Wednesday and he passes a physical. The two sides were discussing a 6th-round pick, per sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 10, 2024
Jones was… pic.twitter.com/dOceAGDDTm
The trade can only be processed once the new league year begins on Wednesday, and Schefter adds that the two sides were discussing a sixth-round pick.
It doesn’t come as a surprise to see the Patriots move on from Jones, especially with how the 2023 season ended for the former first-round pick. Jones struggled mightily this past season as he completed 64.9% of his passes for 2,120 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions.
The former Crimson Tide quarterback played a significant role in the Pats’ offensive struggles and was ultimately benched for backup quarterback Bailey Zappe after a poor showing in Week 12 against the New York Giants. Jones completed 12-of-21 passes for 89 yards and two interceptions.
The Jones’ era in New England started with promise as he led the team to 10 wins and a playoff appearance in 2021. That was Jones’ best season as a Patriot, completing 67.6 percent of his passes for 3,801 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions.
However, after that solid showing as a rookie, things slowly went downhill for Jones and the Patriots over the last two years, which led to the organization parting ways with Bill Belichick in January.
Jones will look for a fresh start in Jacksonville, where he’ll get to backup Trevor Lawrence while working on his game with head coach Doug Pederson. Meanwhile, the Pats will likely use the No. 3 overall pick on a quarterback in next month’s NFL draft. They could also sign a veteran quarterback like Joe Flacco or Jacoby Brissett.
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