In late january, it was announced that the new england patriots could “maybe” get a fourth-round draft pick in exchange for quarterback mac jones either before, during, or after this year’s player-selection process. Chris mason, a patriots beat writer for masslive, says that unconvinced teams around the nfl have such a high valuation on jones ahead of spring. “i’d guess a low fifth-rounder or a high sixth,” mason said about jones’ trade value for a mailbag posted on friday. “i’ve spoken with a variety of coaches from around the league who liked jones in the pre-draft process, but at this point, what you see is what you get.
In back-to-back seasons, the 2021 first-rounder has regressed, and his confidence seems to be completely intact.” Jones is also likely to lose value on the trade market because clubs around the nfl know he’s in the final weeks/months of his new england tenure. According to mock drafts published by outlets such as espn, cbs sports, and walter football, the patriots will spend this year’s third overall draft pick on jones’ replacement. Jones’ relationships with at least some new england teammates may be beyond repair, and it’s likely that both the club and jones would benefit from a separation.
Mason also mentioned the fact that jones only has one year left on his rookie contract, which could have a bearing on what new england will get out of him. There is no reason to believe that any team will exercise the fifth-year option attached to jones’ deal before the may 2 deadline. Former patriots head coach bill belichick “contributed to sabotaging jones’ growth and destroying his confidence,” according to espn’s mike reiss, who said earlier this week that “high-ranking team officials” conspired to sabotage jones’ growth and shattered his confidence” with several surprising moves, including the 25-year-old playing under assistants matt patricia and joe judge during the 2022 season. “some within the organization are hoping jones will make a u-turn in new england,” reiss said, but mason admitted that he’d “be surprised” if the patriots decline a fourth-round draft pick for jones this offseason.
Mason believes that the patriots could start training camp with a rookie, a different veteran, and jones in their quarterback room. Even as a backup, jones’ salary for 2024 is relatively inexpensive, so new england could choose to hold on to him rather than sell him for pennies on the dollar.
