The quarterback many pegged as the heir apparent to Tom Brady in New England is reportedly being dealt for a sixth-round pick.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Patriots are expected to trade former starter Mac Jones to the Jacksonville Jaguars. The deal can’t be finalized until Jones passes a physical and the new league year begins on Wednesday.
Jones starred for head coach Nick Saban at Alabama from 2018 to 2020. In his final year, he won a national title, threw for 41 touchdowns with just four interceptions and finished in third place in voting for the Heisman Trophy. The Patriots drafted Jones with the 15th overall pick in the 2021 draft, and signed him to a four-year rookie deal worth a reported $15.6 million. He immediately took over for the Patriots’ 2020 starter, Cam Newton, starting all 17 regular season games. The rookie thrived under offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Josh McDaniels, throwing for 3,801 yards, with 22 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. In recognition of his success, Jones was selected to the Pro Bowl. 

While no quarterback could replace Brady, often called the “Greatest Quarterback of All Time,” it appeared head coach and de facto GM Bill Belichick had found a long-term starter in Jones.

That all changed in the 2022 season. The Las Vegas Raiders hired McDaniels as head coach, and Belichick tapped former Patriots defensive coordinator and former Detroit Lions head coach Matt Patricia as the play caller. Jones struggled in the Patriots’ new offense and visibly appeared frustrated with his limited set of receivers. 
The QB’s struggles would worsen in 2023 under a third play caller, former Houston Texas head coach Bill O’Brien. The Patriots hired O’Brien in hopes he would restore Jones to his old form. The opposite occurred. Jones played even worse, throwing for 10 touchdowns and 12 interceptions and lost the starting job to Bailey Zappe. The Patriots finished 4-13 and mutually parted ways with Belichick, whose decision to draft Jones was seen as one reason for his departure.
Jones, 25, is expected to back up Jaguars’ starter Trevor Lawrence, who was picked 1st overall in the 2021 draft. A native of Jacksonville, Jones is returning home. 
A sixth-round pick for Jones might seem low for Patriots de facto GM Eliot Wolf and head coach Jerod Mayo, but Jones’ play over the last two seasons no doubt limited his appeal. As the 2024 draft approaches, Jones’ fall from grace is a reminder that even the most promising college players are no sure bets. Many expect the Patriots to draft a quarterback with the third overall pick, though also anticipate the team will not immediately start him as they did with Jones.
One silver lining for the Patriots is they’ve had uncommon success drafting QBs in the sixth round. In the 2000 draft, they used the 199th selection to pick one from Michigan. He went by the name of Tom Brady.