The Patriots selected Mac Jones in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft hoping he would become a true successor to Tom Brady.
That vision never panned out, and Jones' time in New England is now over. The Patriots are trading Jones to the Jaguars in exchange for a late-round pick, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
The trade represents a homecoming for Jones, who was born in Jacksonville. He is expected to back up Trevor Lawrence, who was selected No. 1 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, 14 selections ahead of Jones.
Jones is coming off a bad season during which he completed 64.9 percent of his passes for 2,120 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions in 11 starts before being benched in favor of Bailey Zappe.
Jones enjoyed a solid rookie campaign in 2021, so perhaps Jaguars coach Doug Pederson believes he can develop the 25-year-old behind the scenes behind Lawrence. And the Jaguars weren't the only team interested in Jones' services, as four teams contacted the Patriots about him, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
Four teams were in the mix for Mac Jones, who now lands as the backup to Trevor Lawrence with a chance to restart his career. https://t.co/eXkmKitXKE
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 10, 2024
Here's what to know about the Mac Jones trade as the NFL's quarterback dominoes begin to fall.
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Mac Jones trade details
Jaguars get:
- QB Mac Jones
Patriots get:
- 2024 sixth-round pick (No. 192 overall)
The Jaguars are buying low on Jones, acquiring the 2021 first-round pick for just a sixth-round selection in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Jones figures to battle for the backup job in Jacksonville behind Trevor Lawrence. The Jaguars presently have veteran CJ Beathard entrenched in that role, but the 30-year-old is only under contract for one more season. So too is Jones — assuming that the Jaguars decline his pricey fifth-year option — but he's five years younger than Beathard, so Jacksonville may view him as a developmental prospect.
Meanwhile, the Patriots are moving on from Jones, who lost his starting job in 2023 and didn't figure into the team's long-term plans at quarterback. Getting an asset for him is nice, but the team will be ruing their inability to develop him after the departure of Josh McDaniels.
MORE: Grading the Jaguars and Patriots in the Mac Jones trade
Mac Jones stats
Jones struggled during the 2022 and 2023 NFL seasons, but he enjoyed a solid rookie campaign with the Patriots. He performed well in Josh McDaniels' offense, completing 67.6 percent of his passes for 3,801 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions while leading New England to the postseason.
Jones made the Pro Bowl and finished second in the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year voting behind Bengals star Ja'Marr Chase. However, Jones' success with the Patriots was short-lived, as he struggled to replicate his success after offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels left the team to become the Raiders' head coach.
Below is a look at Jones' stats during his three NFL seasons.
| Year | Record | Comp. % | Passing yards | Pass TDs | INTs | Rating |
| 2021 | 10-7 | 67.6 | 3,801 | 22 | 13 | 92.5 |
| 2022 | 6-8 | 65.2 | 2,997 | 14 | 11 | 84.8 |
| 2023 | 2-9 | 64.9 | 2,120 | 10 | 12 | 77.0 |
Jones didn't fit well into Matt Patricia or Bill O'Brien's offensive systems in 2022 and '23, which led to his Patriots departure. Now, Jones will look to prove himself in Jacksonville with his fourth offensive coordinator in as many NFL seasons.
Press Taylor will work closely with Doug Pederson to mold Jones into a quality backup and perhaps resurrect the starting potential he showcased during his rookie season.
Mac Jones contract
Jones signed a four-year rookie contract with the Patriots after he was selected 15th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft. The deal is worth $15.6 million over four years and comes with a fifth-year option in 2025.
Below is a breakdown of Jones' contract, per Spotrac.com.
| Year | Base salary | Bonuses | Cap hit | Dead cap |
| 2021 | $660,000 | $2,173,882 | $2,833,882 | $15,586,352 |
| 2022 | $1,368,471 | $2,173,882 | $3,542,353 | $12,752,470 |
| 2023 | $2,076,941 | $2,173,882 | $4,250,823 | $9,210,117 |
| 2024 | $2,785,412 | $2,173,882 | $4,959,294 | $4,959,294 |
| 2025 | $25,664,000 | $0 | $25,664,000 | $0 |
Jones' fifth-year option for 2025 is not guaranteed, and the Jaguars are unlikely to exercise it. Jones' uneven performance doesn't warrant it, and Jacksonville will soon be giving Lawrence a lucrative extension.
Jones is effectively on a one-year deal in Jacksonville, but given that the Jaguars traded for him, it stands to reason that they view him as more than a one-year rental, so perhaps he could sign a short-term, backup-level extension in Jacksonville.
