Mac Jones' inconsistencies continue to surface, a change of scenery in the future might be the best option
One week ago Mac Jones led the Patriots to a huge win over the Bills. It was his best performance of the season and looked like a game the young quarterback could build off from. Instead, Jones looked more like what he’s been all season long, below average.
The former Alabama product finished 19-for-29 passing for 161 yards, with two touchdowns and an interception in the 31-17 loss.
“Offensively, we didn’t have the production,” Jones said. “It’s the National Football League. It’s a really good team. They made some plays out there. It’s frustrating. But at the end of the day, we had it as a one-score game and couldn’t capitalize from the offensive side; either trying to get the score tied up or just make it a game in the fourth quarter.”
Jones started strong, looking poised similar to Week 7. He completed six of his first seven passes, including hitting Kendrick Bourne on a 24-yard touchdown pass.
His strong play was short lived, with two minutes remaining in the second quarter and the Dolphins clinging to a 14-7 lead, Jones’ offense was driving down the field vying for a touchdown.
Then Jaylen Ramsey stepped in front of a pass meant for Bourne and took back for 40 yards. Ramsey made his season debut after missing the first seven weeks following offseason surgery. The Jones interception was turned into a field goal for the Dolphins and a 17-7 lead at the half.
“He fell off on the one play and he made a play,” Jones said of Ramsey’s interception. “It’s what he does. He’s a good player. Obviously his first game back … he was very productive. You could tell that they called the defense that way.
“I knew the coverage,’' Jones said. “I knew everything. I just made a bad throw really late. I didn’t really drive it That’s what happens on that play — the guy either takes it and it’s a touchdown or he falls off. That can happen. But you can’t do that as a quarterback. Just throw it out of bounds or take the checkdown and move on.”
The Patriots poor play leaves the team sitting at 2-6 and growing speculation as to whether Jones will remain in New England beyond the 2024 season.
“It’s not the record we want,” Jones said. “I have to really just review the game film, see where my feet are, and see what I can do better as a quarterback. And everybody else will do that — or try to do that.”
Each week, Jones meets with the media and talks about how he and the team needs to be better. Yet, the Patriots aren’t getting better with him under center.
“It’s hard, right? You don’t want to be here. You don’t want to be in this position. But at the end of the day, we’re playing football, and we have to go out there and figure it out.”
“We all need to play better,” Belichick said when asked if Jones was his quarterback. “We all need to coach and play better.”
It would be a massive shock if Belichick trades Jones at the deadline. The Vikings could be a suitor after loosing quarterback Kirk Cousins for the season with an Achilles injury.
The last time the Patriots traded a quarterback at the deadline was Jimmy Garoppolo back in 2017. New England traded Garoppolo to the 49ers for a second-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.
The reality of the Patriots playing Bailey Zappe or Malik Cunningham the reminder of the season seems illogical, no matter how badly the team is playing.
Jones is still on his rookie deal, he cannot become a free agent until the 2025 offseason. Its possible that the 25-year-old could benefit from a change of scenery and the Patriots could dip into the first round and select a potential franchise quarterback.
NBC Sports Boston’s Michael Holley doesn’t agree with the idea of trading Jones to the Vikings.
“No, you cannot have him, this is my quarterback,” Holley said. “You are back in the same situation. You get a second-rounder, and you give up Mac Jones who is still under contract. Who still has some talent and we haven’t identified exactly who he is because he hasn’t been able to be his best self because he doesn’t have a lot around him.
“You trade Mac Jones … now you’re looking for a quarterback. It’s going to be a young quarterback or one of these veteran guys. Have you really gotten better? Have you really improved your situation? You’re a bad team anyway,” added Holley.
Jones has struggled and doesn’t look like the future under center. No matter how bad he’s playing, trading him during the season would be a disaster for Belichick.
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