Mac Jones may have played his final snap as with the Patriots.
The struggling signal-caller was a coveted first-round pick by the Patriots in 2021, tasked with ushering in the post-Tom Brady era alongside head coach Bill Belichick, but things have not worked out as planned.
And now, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Friday that teams have been calling the Patriots for Jones as the Patriots enter the first year of head coach Jerod Mayo’s tenure.
Jones, who made it to the Pro Bowl in 2021 and finished second for the Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year while leading the Pats to the playoffs, is now seemingly on the trade block and entering the final year of his rookie contract.
NFL.com added that New England “appears” open to the possibility of dealing Jones.
The report of trade calls comes just over two weeks after Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt admitted that “everything is on the table” as the organization continues to move forward for 2024.
Jones, who was benched four times during the Patriots’ troubled 2023 season, went 2-9 as a starter, recording just 10 touchdown passes to 12 interceptions while completing a career-low 64.9 percent of his passes.
The Patriots, who have the No. 3 overall pick in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft, also have quarterback Bailey Zappe on the roster.
Zappe, who was drafted in the fourth round of the 2022 Draft, is signed through 2025 and will become a restricted free agent in 2025, according to Spotrac.
Zappe made six starts in 2023 and appeared in 10 games, throwing for six touchdowns to nine interceptions with 1,272 passing yards.
The Patriots went 2-4 in Zappe’s starts, finishing 4-13 on the tumultuous season that ended with a loss to the Jets to close out Belichick’s time with the club.