Patriots QB Plan: Trade Mac Jones, Draft Anthony Richardson?

Rumors of the New England Patriots shopping quarterback Mac Jones have circulated since the start of the offseason.

As a rookie quarterback in 2021, New England Patriots signal caller Mac Jones tossed 22 touchdowns, threw for 3,801 passing yards and led the Patriots team to a playoff appearance. 

However, with former offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels' departure for the Las Vegas Raiders prior to the 2022 season, Jones' sophomore season was anything but successful. 

Not only did New England finish 8-9 (third in the AFC East), but Jones also struggled mightily, with his QBR plummeting from 50.9 in year one to 36.2 in 2022. And since the Week 17 loss to the Buffalo Bills, rumors have began circulating of what the now third-year quarterback's future looks like in Foxborough. 

With McDaniels now the head coach of Raiders, the success the duo saw in Jones' rookie campaign has been a common trend on why New England could ship the 24-year-old.

"I think they would," The MMQB's Albert Breer told 98.5 The Sports Hub's Zolak and Bertrand (h/t Justin Leger of NBC Sports Boston). "Internally, I don't know if they see this massive gap between Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe."

In 2022, Zappe started and won two games for New England while throwing 781 yards to go along with five touchdowns and three interceptions. 

And if Belichick and company don't envision either of their current rostered signal callers as the future, spending a first round pick on a quarterback for the second time in three years may not be out of the picture. 

“How about Anthony Richardson behind Bailey Zappe," NFL Analyst Lance Zierlein said. "With Mac moved on either draft day or after draft day. … I don’t think it’s just smoke that Mac Jones was unhappy in New England and Bill Belichick was unhappy with Mac Jones. And if he’s not happy; if there’s one guy who can surprise you in any given draft it’s Bill Belichick. And if Anthony Richardson were there, and he could play him behind Bailey Zappe, and move Mac Jones for say a second-round pick, I’m not sure that he wouldn’t do that.”

New England holds the No. 14 in the first round, however a package involving Jones could warrant more draft capital in the early rounds. 

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