The New England Patriots could shop Mac Jones this offseason. If they decide to do so, the Las Vegas Raiders make sense as a trade destination.
Mac Jones is coming off a down second season. Much of that can be attributed to injuries, and playing under a non-offensive coordinator in Matt Patricia calling the plays. That will change next season, as Bill O’Brien is taking over those duties.
That should be a good start in getting the Alabama product back on track in what was expected to be a positive career trajectory, especially after his first season. Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, as well as Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, only fueled speculation that Jones could be on the outs with their recent commentary:
"“After the season ended, Patriots coach Bill Belichick was asked whether Jones will be the team’s starter in 2023,” Florio wrote. “Belichick didn’t answer the question, saying instead that Jones has proved he can play in this league. Perhaps a trade could happen, pairing Jones with the former Patriots offensive coordinator who helped Jones have a solid rookie season.”"
MMQB’s Breer joined 98.5 The Hub, a Boston Sports radio station, to further discuss Jones’ issues in New England.
"“I don’t think Bill appreciated the way that Mac handled some of the stuff last year,” Breer said. “There’s a way that I think Bill thinks a franchise quarterback should conduct himself. And for the most part, (Tom) Brady did conduct himself that way. I think there were certain things in the way that Mac handled his second year as a pro that Bill didn’t appreciate.”"
What would a Patriots-Raiders trade for Mac Jones look like?
Per Breer himself, it seems unlikely that Jones is traded at all. It’s important to keep that in mind. However, if Jones were dealt, the Raiders are a possible destination — it just won’t be for the Pats initial asking price, which would be a first-round pick.
Jones himself is a former first rounder, and still has time left on his rookie deal. It’s not out of the realm of possibility to ask for such a return, but the Raiders have other options. Here’s what a trade for Jones would realistically look like:
In this scenario, the Patriots receive three draft picks, with the third being slight upgrade in 2024. Sure, it’s not a first-round selection, but three draft picks for Jones is a nice haul at this point in his career.
If New England truly doesn’t believe in Mac at this point, it may be the best offer they get.