One quarterback was on the move prior to Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline, and his name was not Mac Jones.
The Patriots quarterback, who has struggled through what’s been a dismal 2-6 campaign, apparently did not draw much interest, according to a report from The Athletic that came roughly two hours before the 4 p.m. deadline.
“Despite some speculation, the Patriots have not received any trade calls for QB Mac Jones, per sources,” Jeff Howe posted on X.
Though it’s been a season to forget for Jones, who has thrown nine touchdowns against eight interceptions in eight games, his name was floated earlier this week following Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins’ season-ending Achilles injury.
When Pat McAfee brought up Jones’ name to Adam Schefter on Monday’s episode of his self-titled show, ESPN’s NFL insider offered an interesting take on the former first-round pick.
“Mac Jones is interesting, but then that’s New England just cashing out on its season because one of the reasons that the Patriots haven’t made a quarterback change is they just don’t have another guy right now that they feel they can turn to,” Schefter said during his appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show.”
“So if you’re trading away Mac Jones in a season that’s gone south anyway, OK, but that’s checking out at less than the halfway mark, which just seems a little strange to me when they like Mac Jones and they don’t have another guy.”
Behind Jones — who has been benched at times this season — the Patriots have second-year quarterback Bailey Zappe, veteran Will Grier and rookie Malik Cunningham, who is on the practice squad.
Schefter also questioned the logistics of a Vikings-Jones union Monday, one day before Minnesota traded for Cardinals quarterback Josh Dobbs.
“Let’s say Minnesota wanted Mac Jones — and this is the first I’ve heard of it — what do the Vikings give up for him? And what are the Patriots willing to trade him for? It’s hard to come up with that equation to make it work for both sides.”
Despite what’s been a turbulent season for Jones, the 25-year-old quarterback maintains the team will find a way through.
“It’s not the record we want. I’ll have to really just review the game film, be where my feet are and see what I can do better as a quarterback,” Jones said following the Patriots’ 31-17 loss to the Dolphins last Sunday.
“And I know everyone else will do that or try to do that. It’s hard, right? You don’t want to be here. You don’t want to be in this position. But at the end of the day, we’re playing football and we got to go out there and figure it out.”
Jones was selected 15th overall in 2021 and earned a Pro Bowl nod and reached the playoffs that season.
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