The New England Patriots have taken the expected step of trading quarterback Mac Jones, a move that ultimately reflects the mismanagement by former head coach Bill Belichick.
This trade agreement with the Jacksonville Jaguars has been brewing for the past two years due to Belichick’s mishandling of various aspects. Following Jones’ promising rookie season, which saw 10 wins and an AFC Wildcard berth, Belichick, who served as both head coach and general manager, significantly hindered the young quarterback’s progress ahead of the 2022 season.
The initial issue arose when Jones was left on an unstable footing following the departure of offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who took on the head coaching role with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Rather than appointing a mentor for Jones in his second season, Belichick neglected to name a new offensive coordinator. Consequently, the Patriots navigated through a messy arrangement where quarterbacks coach Joe Judge and offensive line coach Matt Patricia shared play-calling responsibilities.
In October, former NFL quarterback-turned-commentator Robert Griffin III criticized Belichick for what he termed as “coaching malpractice” due to the failure to adapt the offense to Jones’s strengths.
Alongside the lack of guidance, Belichick also failed to provide Jones with a strong supporting cast, as the Patriots possessed an average offensive line and lacked top-tier offensive weapons.
The Patriots have struggled to produce a 1,000-yard receiver since Julian Edelman achieved the feat in 2019. Even during Jones’ 3,801-yard passing season in 2021, New England’s leading receiver, Jakobi Meyers, accounted for only 866 yards.
Despite another 800-yard receiving campaign in 2022, the Patriots allowed Meyers to leave in free agency, and he went on to record 807 yards and eight touchdowns for the Raiders in 2023. Meanwhile, rookie Demario Douglas, selected in the sixth round, led all Patriots’ pass-catchers with 561 yards this past season.
Amidst the upheaval of having Jones work under yet another offensive coordinator for the third consecutive year, Belichick solidified the quarterback’s fate by benching him four times in favor of the undrafted and overwhelmed Bailey Zappe during the past season.
Following his fourth in-game benching on November 26, Jones did not see any further playtime for the remainder of the season. Belichick commented, “I thought both guys deserved a chance to play,” after the Week 12 loss to the New York Giants.
Was Jones ever destined to become a top-tier franchise quarterback? Perhaps not, but he had demonstrated the capability to effectively lead an offense. Regrettably, the former No. 15 overall draft pick was never afforded a genuine opportunity. Belichick failed to provide his young quarterback with the support necessary to thrive. Arguably, he did the opposite.
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