SUMMARY
- In 2021, Mac Jones got drafted in the NFL and joined the New England Patriots.
- Reportedly, the Patriots agreed to trade Mac Jones to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Some transfers may ruin players’ careers, or some may build them; now, fans have to wait until the beginning of the new season to witness in which way Mac Jones’ career will turn. Jones joined New England in the 2021 NFL draft as the 15th pick in round one. The quarterback had a mixture of good and bad times with Tom Brady’s former team.
Patriots No. 10 spent the early stages of his time with the franchise as a second-choice quarterback after Cam Newton. Eventually, Jones got his opportunity to become a starter as Newton was forced to sideline because he was unvaccinated against COVID-19 after returning from a team-approved medical appointment.
Let’s go Mac! Might be an unpopular opinion, but really like this trade. I think he’ll work great as a back up in Doug’s offense. And he has Jacksonville ties! #duuuval @MacJones_10 pic.twitter.com/xvMpHfhyIS
— Nash Henry (@NashJagsNats22) March 10, 2024
In his debut against the Miami Dolphins, Jones performed quite impressively, but despite that, the Patriots lost the fixture by only one point margin, 17-16. Since then, the quarterback has played a couple of good and bad games with the franchise but never seems to have settled.
After all, Mac Jones is edging close to ending his time with the Patriots, and the franchise’s boss, Jerod Mayo, officially announces it. Below are the three significant reasons why leaving the Patriots for the Jacksonville Jaguars was the best decision in Jones’ career.
1. Mac Jones will be able to play in his comfort zone under Dough Pederson
The first disagreement between Jones and the then-coach, Bill Belichick, occurred when the boss switched Jones to a new offensive system. Jones didn’t like the idea of being changed from his favorite position and struggled a lot on the field.
On-pitch results did not favor the quarterback, which frustrated him. Due to Jones’ poor performance on the field and inability to maintain the offensive system, Belichick became furious. This feud continued until Belichick’s exit as the head coach of the Patriots on January 11, 2024.
Belichick’s idea of switching Jones to a shaky offensive line foundation never clicked. As soon as Jones began playing with a new offensive line, he just messed up and seemed to lose all his skills, and his playing style was brutally affected. Therefore, moving to the Jaguars under Doug Pederson might prove to be a healthy start for Jones, which will help him get his rookie season form back.
2. Mac Jones will get proper guidance from the coaching staff
Bill Belichick should have offered the quarterback the proper guidance he needed. When Josh McDaniels left the Patriots for the Las Vegas Raiders, Belichick failed to appoint a new offensive coordinator. Instead, Bill with Joe Judge, quarterback coach, and offensive line coach, Matt Patricia, formed a messy offensive, and Jones could never have put himself in that situation.
The Patriots’ former manager just pushed the quarterback into an uninspiring supporting cast, where Jones never received any support. In contrast, the quarterback will get guidance from the Jaguars’ boss, Pederson, which he always lacked receiving from Belichick.
3. Mac Jones will get more playing time
First, Bill Belichick pushed the quarterback into an unfamiliar, shaky offensive foundation. Later, the former coach also benched Mac Jones four times this past season. When Jones was benched for the fourth time on November 26, he never appeared on the field again for the rest of the season.
If a short study is made on Mac Jones’ career with the Patriots, it will be evident that he never had any real opportunity to showcase himself. Under Belichick, the quarterback is not put in a position where he can lift himself a single time. Although after the franchise fired Belichick, fans hoped to see a new Jones under Mayo, he also didn’t look like a big fan of the quarterback.
Hence, a move away from the Patriots was the best decision for the 25-year-old quarterback. It is highly expected that Jones will at least be allowed to play in his preferred position and will get the deserving game time.