Mac By Popular Demand: Will Patriots Trade QB Jones?
FOXBORO — Is the difference between New England Patriots quarterbacks Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe negligible enough to justify a changing of the guard?
At the very least, it appears to be ‘something to ‘think’ about.
Or, is it?
In the latest attempt to extract controversy from the waterlogged, “he said, Bill said” rumor mill, recycled interpretations are being used to suggest that Jones may be the subject of trade consideration.
In fact, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer is of the belief that such a move may be facilitated by the fact that New England views both Jones and Zappe as largely interchangeable.
"I think they would," Breer recently told 98.5’s Zolak and Bertrand (via NBC Sports Boston) of the Pats willingness to trade Jones. "Internally, I don't know if they see this massive gap between Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe. I'm not saying they think Bailey's as good as Mac, but there was some element of Bailey doing what he was coached to do last year that I think gave Bailey the edge to some degree for a little while there."
Interesting, for sure.
Still, Jones is highly unlikely to be moved.
While such narratives often succeed in creating a groundswell of speculation, it should be noted that reporting a team’s willingness to ‘listen’ to trade offers for any player is the sports journalistic equivalent of revealing that the sun will rise the next morning.
In short, trade proposals are both made and considered every day.
The Patriots have almost certainly received inquires regarding Jones, as well as the availability of nearly every player on their roster, already. Whether the Pats listen to the proposal is ultimately their choice.
In that vein, here is a look at the main reasons why trading Jones is not in the Patriots best interest.
The “Gap” may not be massive, but it is substantial
In all fairness, Jones’ statistical regression last season did open the door for such theorizing. Despite entering the season on the heels of an impressive rookie campaign, Jones struggled to rekindle his previous success in 2022. The 24-year-old displayed notable discomfort in New England's new offensive system, directed by offensive play caller Matt Patricia and quarterbacks coach Joe Judge.
Having missed three games due to a high-ankle sprain, Jones threw for 2,997 yards, 14 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
While Jones was shelved, Zappe performed well. The rookie demonstrated poise, as well as comfort within the Patriots system. He led the Patriots to a 2-0 record during the games in which he started. Zappe finished the season completing 65 of 92 passes for 781 yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions.
In fact, “Zappe Mania” became so prevalent throughout the fan base that some still clamor for his supplanting of Jones.
Hence, the trade rumors.
Nevertheless, the romanticized hindsight of Zappe’s performance in a limited sample size often fail to reveal the full story. While the Western Kentucky product deserves ample credit for his on-field achievements, New England’s offensive coaches facilitated his success by deploying a more simplified, single-read offense.
It should also be noted that Zappe’s victories as a starter came against the Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns, the 31st and 25th ranked passing defenses in the NFL for 2022.
When Jones returned to the starting role in Week 7 against the Chicago Bears, his early struggles led to his being booed off the field by his own home crowd. In turn, Zappe led the team on two consecutive scoring drives on his first two possessions; pacing New England to a 14-10 lead into the second quarter.
Unfortunately, Zappe and the Pats offense was unable to muster another point. Zappe’s early success gave way to struggles which seemed eerily similar to those which Jones suffered in the first half.
Only this time, they were more magnified.
In addition to the occasional struggle with recognizing pressure— which led to a pair of turnovers facilitated by poor decisions with the football — he also had some difficulty in finishing drives.
New England lost the game 33-14, while Zappe would fail to take another meaningful snap for the remainder of the year. Despite inadequate protection from his offensive line and questionable play-calling, Jones showed flashes of his potential throughout the latter part of the season. In the process, he earned the respect and endorsement of numerous teammates and team ownership for his perseverance in the face of adversity.
Accordingly, New England backed Mac.
For as well as the rookie had played, New England believed they were best served with Jones remaining under center moving forward.
The O’Brien Effect
This sentiment has apparently continued into the 2023 offseason, evidenced by the hiring of ex-Alabama Crimson Tide coach Bill O’Brien as offensive coordinator.
It is clearly no secret that Jones was frustrated with New England’s offensive coaching structure last season. At times, the disconnect between Jones and the coaching staff was so overt that he was observed hurling expletive-laden frustrations, believed to be in the direction of his coaches.
“I don’t think Bill appreciated the way that Mac handled some of the stuff last year,” Breer said. “There’s a way that I think Bill thinks a franchise quarterback should conduct himself. And for the most part, Tom Brady did conduct himself that way.
“I think there were certain things in the way that Mac handled his second year as a pro that Bill didn’t appreciate,” Breer concluded.
While Breer is likely correct in assuming that Belichick was a bit miffed by Jones’ in-game conduct, the tension has yet to reach the point of no return.
Otherwise, O’Brien would not presently be in New England.
New England’s new ‘OC’ is know for employing an offensive scheme which features ball protection, efficient running and spreading the ball to multiple pass catchers. Jones remains the best steward for this offense. He has proven his ability to create plays by leading his receivers under the defense, releasing the ball quickly and delivering it accurately. This will give his playmakers the space they needed to catch and run with the football. Not only will it put points on the board, it will also help to keep him ahead of the blitz and out of duress.
While Belichick may not have appreciated Jones’ demeanor at times, he is not going to forsake the chance to reignite the spark in both his offensive coordinator and quarterback before observing it first hand.
The ROI
Perhaps the most convincing reason to keep Jones in New England may lie within the return on investment on any such deal involving him.
For the first time since 1993, New England invested first-round draft capital in a quarterback to select Jones in the 2021 NFL Draft. While the team chose Drew Bledsoe with the first overall selection, the Pats selected the Alabama product at No. 15.
Selecting a quarterback at such an early point in the draft seemingly indicates that the Patriots were sending a clear message.
Like Bledsoe before him, Jones is the Patriots’ plan for the future of the position — and they will not give him away for a shoddy return on investment.
Still, his struggles in 2022 make it implausible for a team to offer a return of equal value in a potential deal for his services.
Simply put, teams are not going to be eager to offer a first-rounder — or even a package of multiple second -rounders — to the Patriots in a package for Jones. With the Patriots understandably unwilling to accept pennies on the dollar for a player in whom they have already invested much time, effort and trust, a trade of lesser value would simply be bad business.
Looks like ol’ Mac will probably be back in 2023 … no matter what anyone else may “think.”
Follow Mike D’Abate on Twitter @mdabateNFL and Listen/Subscribe to his daily podcast: Locked On Patriots
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