The New England Patriots needed to move on from Bill Belichick after finishing out of the playoffs three of the last four seasons, but more importantly, because he assembled what experts consider one of the worst rosters in the NFL.
For different reasons, they also need to do the same with Mac Jones. They have to part with their 2021 first-round quarterback.
As MassLive’s Mark Daniels reported, the Patriots don’t plan on picking up Jones’s fifth-year option, and won’t hesitate to move him if the right offer comes their way. So, he’s already not part of their future plans.
That certainly comes as no surprise. But if they can’t get what they’re looking for, do they really want to keep him around next season before turning him loose the following year?
Jones needs a fresh start elsewhere. And while his contract remains team-friendly this season, the Patriots could also benefit by moving on sooner, not later.
Along with Jones getting a boost, the team will, too. The players will be sparked by having a different dynamic up and down the roster, and find new energy without Jones.
If Jones finds success elsewhere, so be it. Chances are, he isn’t going to turn it around here, even with Belichick removed from the equation. As described in the MassLive story, the relationship between Belichick and Jones had deteriorated to the point where the coach wasn’t speaking with the quarterback.
While that dynamic would be different with Belichick gone, the other factors that led to the downfall of Jones — the lack of a supporting cast chief among them — aren’t likely going to disappear overnight.
He would have a better chance with another team. There are plenty of NFL redemption stories with first-round quarterbacks finding success away from the team that drafted them.
Baker Mayfield had to shuffle through a bunch of different teams before clicking in Tampa Bay. Geno Smith did the same before landing in Seattle and revitalizing his career.
Some quarterbacks just need to move on from their first team if it doesn’t work out for whatever reason. When it comes to Jones, whether it’s not being afforded the best supporting cast, not having adequate coaching his second year, dealing with a fractured relationship with Belichick and not handling any of the above particularly well, it wasn’t a recipe for success.
Last week on WEEI, Jerod Mayo said Jones’s regression was a “collective fail” by the Patriots, including the quarterback himself.
“If you were to ask Mac Jones, he made mistakes along the way as well,” Mayo said. “The coaching staff, we made mistakes along the way as well and I’m not just talking about the offensive coaching staff.
One thing about Mac, you know everybody talks to Mac. Special teams, defensive players, offensive players and we were trying to help him with that confidence but I think everyone has ... there’s enough blame to go around.”
It’s important where the Patriots go from here.
They need to draft a quarterback. Perhaps they’ll do that and sign a veteran free agent as well in the coming months.
Does Jones even fit in that scenario? Would he be the starter? The backup? No. 3 on the depth chart behind Bailey Zappe and a draft pick to be named later?
He already lost his starting job to Zappe after being benched four times in games during the season. He was even reduced to third-string emergency quarterback status in the season finale against the Jets.
Does that mean Jones couldn’t resurrect himself with a new offensive coordinator all under Mayo’s watch? It’s not completely out of the realm.
But is it worth leaving that to chance?
Nick Caley, who appears to be the leader in the clubhouse for the coordinator job, was the Patriots’ tight ends coach for Jones’s first two seasons before spending last season with the L.A. Rams. So there’s some familiarity there.
Mayo has stated that everyone has a clean slate.
It just seems like Jones would be better served if that clean slate was away from Foxborough. He’d be better off with a change of scenery. Having both sides start fresh seems like the best course of action.
With Mayo starting his first head coaching gig, having a disgruntled quarterback in the room wouldn’t be the wisest choice.
As it is, with the Patriots already deciding not to pick up Jones’s option, they’re telling everyone he doesn’t represent the future. So they need to find a trade partner.
Some team is bound to need a quarterback either now or down the road when someone gets hurt. If the Vikings re-sign Kirk Cousins, Jones might be the perfect backup, especially with Kevin O’Connell — who came up in the Patriots system — running the offense. Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Green Bay and the LA Rams could also be logical landing spots.
With a new team, Jones won’t be carrying the baggage he accrued in Foxborough. He won’t have the same history with fans, who in Year 2 were chanting for Zappe.
Bottom line: There really isn’t much to decide. It’s time to move on.