Mac Jones put together an impressive preseason for the Jacksonville Jaguars. But let's not act like Jones' recent performances means the New England Patriots made a mistake by trading the quarterback this offseason.
The Patriots had no choice but to cut ties with the 2021 first-round pick. Jones was a completely broken player who lost all self-confidence. The team lost games during the 2023 campaign because of mind-boggling mistakes Jones made.
New England also was one month away from using its third overall pick on a franchise-altering quarterback. They needed to reconstruct the quarterback room and add a veteran to mentor the rookie. Jones, given the reports about his broken relationship with fellow signal-caller Bailey Zappe, was not capable of doing so.
Can we imagine how awkward a quarterback room consisting of Drake Maye, Jones and Zappe would be right now? Can we imagine if the Patriots bypassed drafting Maye, who's already showcased so much potential, because of Jones?
The Patriots needed to go in a different direction to begin their rebuild under executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf and first-year head coach Jerod Mayo.
Jones sorely needed a fresh start, too.
He did not have the same excitement and energy as he now does not in his native Jacksonville. His development came to a screeching halt in Bill Belichick's final seasons. It's fair to blame Belichick's coaching decisions -- Matt Patricia and Joe Judge responsible for Jones' second-year leap -- for the Alabama product's downfall at One Patriot Place. Jones didn't help himself with behind-the-scenes calls to non-Patriots staffers looking for advice and tips.
That sums up the broken partnership.
Wolf and the Patriots received a sixth-round pick for Jones in March. New England since landed its quarterback of the future in Maye, who has a much higher ceiling than Jones given his physical traits, and a well-respected veteran in Jacoby Brissett. Jones has revitalized his career with glimpses of his potential, but that production also came against second- and third-string defenses.
It worked out for both parties. And it was the only way the Patriots could have proceeded.
