Bill Belichick reportedly wanted to trade Mac Jones last offseason only to be vetoed by owner Robert Kraft

If it were up to Bill Belichick, then Mac Jones would have found himself playing somewhere else other than Boston even before the 2023 season. The quarterback position is obviously the most important position on any football team, and if the soul of the team isn’t up to the standards, then it’s better to move on.

Surprisingly, when Tom Brady decided to leave the New England Patriots in 2020, there was little resistance from Belichick. Brady went on to add his seventh Super Bowl ring. Perhaps this was in the back of the mind of owner Robert Kraft. So when Belichick wanted to trade Mac Jones last summer in exchange for a second-round pick. He was allegedly denied.

An ESPN article documented the entire scenario. Jones had a great rookie campaign, making the Pro Bowl. But it went downhill from there very quickly. However, blaming him solely as the reason for the regression would do injustice to the Alabama graduate.

Belichick never had any offensive-minded helping hands in his locker room. Jones had to learn from Matt Patricia (a defensive coach) and Joe Judge (a special-teams coach). On top of that, Belichick himself was a genius when it came to managing the defense.

The situation on the field kept getting worse each game, but Belichick kept playing Jones. If he wanted to annoy Kraft, then the mission was successful. But in return, the 71-year-old had to digest one of the worst seasons of his NFL career. The Patriots just won four games, finishing dead last in their division.

Mac Jones is on the move

Belichick rarely shows any aggression, but he too has a limit to his patience. Jones’ continued bad performances compelled him to bench him not once but twice, upgrading Bailey Zappe to the starter spot. Jones finished the season with 224 completions for 2,120 passing yards, throwing 10 touchdowns and 12 picks.

As the new league calendar is around the corner, along with the free agency deadline, the Patriots did not waste any more time and have opted to trade Mac Jones. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Jones will be traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for a sixth-round pick.

With new head coach Jerod Mayo taking over from Belichick, this appears to be the best course of action. Not just for the Patriots but also for Jones as well. He will backup Trevor Lawrence, who was the first pick in the same draft class. Before picking up a foot injury and capitulating, Lawrence and the Jaguars were the favorites to grab the second AFC playoff seat.

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