Whether Mac Jones is the future of the quarterback position with the New England Patriots remains to be seen. It just doesn’t seem like the former first-round pick is going to be the short-term answer under embattled head coach Bill Belichick.
Jones was benched late in last week’s ugly 10-6 loss to the Indianapolis Colts after throwing a brutal interception. It represents the third time that the quarterback has been given the hook by Belichick this season.
It is certainly frustrating for a youngster who jumped on to the scene and led New England to a surprise playoff appearance as a rookie back in 2021.
Former Patriots star and franchise legend Rob Gronkowski has a recommendation for Jones when it comes to handling this frustration. Simply ask out.
“I think Mac Jones should ultimately, even right now, should just go and ask for his release,” Gronkowski told the Up & Adams Show. “If you’re talking to me about what he should do, ask for his release. And then if it gets granted, he should go sign with the Cleveland Browns and start a new career right there.”
Sure, the Browns could use a quarterback after Deshaun Watson’s season-ending injury. Sure, Jones could use a change of scenery. But this is not happening. At the very least, it seems highly unlikely.
What we do know is that another report indicates Jones has lost the Patriots’ locker room with his on-field struggles. Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald notes that “at least 80 percent of the Patriots’ locker room is out on Jones.” Yeah, it’s not going swimmingly.
Related: Ranking Mac Jones among the NFL’s 32 starting quarterbacks
Mac Jones stats (2023): 65% completion, 2,031 yards, 10 TD, 10 INT
Since throwing 22 touchdowns against 13 interceptions during his rookie campaign, the Alabama product has accounted for 24 touchdown passes and 21 interceptions in 24 starts. He’s also lost three fumbles during that span.
As for whether Jones will start following New England’s Week 11 bye, Belichick would not commit to the struggling quarterback.
“We have a lot of things to work on this week as a team. We’ll work through those. That is what we are going to do this week,” Belichick said heading into the bye.
While unrealistic, there is a chance that this marriage could lead to a divorce sooner rather than later. If Jones were to demand his release, it wouldn’t necessarily be a surprise for Belichick to grant it. Things have spiraled between the two. And if Jones has indeed lost the locker room, there is no real benefit to keeping this relationship going.
Jones, 25, is under contract through the 2024 season. Moving on from him after this year would result in a mere $4.9 million dead cap hit. Whether it’s via a trade or release, that seems to be more likely than an in-season move.
