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It’s time for quarterback Mac Jones to pack his bags and head back to his hometown.
Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Patriots are finalizing a deal to send the Jacksonville native to the Jaguars for a sixth-round pick. The trade cannot be processed until the new league year begins on Wednesday and he passes a physical.
This should come as no surprise to Patriots fans. Even though he made the Pro Bowl in his rookie season, Jones — the 15th overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft — never became the successor to future Hall of Famer Tom Brady.
In three seasons with New England, he went 18-24, posted a below-average 44 QBR and never logged 25 or more passing touchdowns. In 2023, he was benched in favor of former fourth-round pick Bailey Zappe.
The Patriots have the third overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. Expect them to try to find the answer at the most important position. According to Tankathon, they’ll select North Carolina’s Drake Maye. Per NFL.com, the former Tar Heel is the third-best QB in the class.
Last season, knee, ankle and shoulder injuries hampered Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence, who led the league in turnovers (14 interceptions and seven fumbles).
It makes sense for Jacksonville to add a backup who flashed potential early in his career and can fill in for Lawrence if his durability becomes a bigger concern.
Jones was one of five quarterbacks taken in the first 15 picks of the 2021 NFL Draft. He is the second to have been traded. The San Francisco 49ers dealt Trey Lance to the Dallas Cowboys last offseason.
It’s fair to say the class hasn’t met lofty expectations.
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