Mac Back? Patriots Make Decision On Jones, Selecting QB in NFL Draft First Round
FOXBORO — Looks like Mac will be back in town, after all
After being engulfed in a sea of rumors regarding his future with the organization, New England Patriots starting quarterback Mac Jones will not be traded as part of the opening night proceedings of the 2023 NFL. In fact, not only will Jones remain a Patriot, but the team will also not be selecting a quarterback in the first round, per a report from NBC Sports Tom E. Curran.
“After speaking to people today, I’ve said previously that over Robert Kraft’s dead body, would Mac Jones be traded. We could probably also include Bill Belichick,” Curran said on NBC Sports Boston’s Arbella Early Edition. “I was told today that Bill Belichick does not want to trade Mac Jones. Robert Kraft, we already know it does not want to trade Mac Jones. The Patriots will not be trading Mac Jones in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Mac Jones will be here and the Patriots will not draft a quarterback.”
New England is just two years removed from investing a first-round draft pick (15th overall) in Jones. While the Alabama product struggled during his second season in New England, his stellar rookie campaign — which included a selection to the AFC Pro Bowl roster — seemingly provided the necessary evidence to show that he is capable of being the team’s top option for the foreseeable future. In turn, the Patriots have shown a willingness to provide Jones with the proper support to improve upon his performance in 2022. Not only have they added wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and tight end Mike Gesicki as pass-catching options, they also secured the services of offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien, with whom he built a pseudo-working relationship at Alabama in 2021.
Still, the rumor mill continue to churn regarding Jones’ standing within the Patriots locker room … or perhaps more specifically, the coaches room. Despite a previous endorsement from team owner Robert Kraft, Pats coach Bill Belichick had been reluctant to provide Jones with a vote of confidence as his choice to begin the 2023 season as the Patriots starting quarterback. In fact, Belichick’s vexation with Jones emerged as the primary reason for the latter’s services allegedly being shopped throughout the NFL. The speculation reached an even higher level when the Pats hosted Kentucky quarterback Will Levis on a pre-draft visit last week.
Ultimately, New England appears content to take their chances at the position with Jones, as well as reserves Bailey Zappe and Trace McSorley — with whom Jones is expected to compete for the starting job during training camp. Though the Pats reserve the right to select a quarterback in the mid-to-late rounds of their weekend’s Draft, Jones’ place on the team’s roster is seeming safe for the time being.
New England will make its first selection in the 2023 NFL Draft at No. 14, which is estimated to take place between 9:30 and 10 p.m. ET.
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