Patriots Trading Mac? NFL Insider: 'Taking Calls'

Even after the hiring of new offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, the New England Patriots are still seemingly considering the idea of trading away Mac Jones.

Even with the proposed "fresh start" for the New England Patriots offense with the hiring of Alex Van Pelt as their new offensive coordinator, it may not stop Mac Jones from being on a new team by next season. 

According to a new report from NFL.com's Ian Rapoport, the former first-round pick has been a subject of interest from teams around the league, who have been calling the Patriots about a potential trade. 

"The Patriots appear open to trading QB Mac Jones and teams have been calling them and doing work on the former starter, sources say," Rapoport writes. "With a new coaching staff, a fresh start may make sense for all sides."

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The end of the Jones era in Foxboro has felt more like a "when," not "if" question since his steep regression over the last two seasons hit what felt like rock-bottom this past year. Despite last offseason's hiring of Bill O'Brien as the offensive coordinator, the Patriots once-promising quarterback got worse. 

The return of an experienced offensive play-caller and one that Jones had familiarity with after the disaster that proceeded it, where both two previously inexperienced play-callers, Matt Patricia and Joe Judge, presided over the unit, was supposed to be a big win. 

However, in some ways, the Patriots may feel like what they endured in 2022 was never near as bad as this past season. Instead of a Patriots offense returning to the same level of play they had in 2021 under then-coordinator Josh McDaniel, led by a rejuvenated Jones, it was the complete opposite. 

The Patriots ranked near the bottom of the league in many statistical categories. At the same time, Jones looked more bereft of confidence and consistency than he ever had in the two seasons prior. That lack of confidence and consistency, in turn, saw Jones benched four times before being replaced permanently by his one-time backup, Bailey Zappe, for the final six games.

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That wasn't it, though; Jones ended the season on the lowest of lows, as he was made the team's emergency third quarterback, or in other words, a healthy scratch from the Week 18 loss to the New York Jets.  

Now, even with a "fresh start" in a new era for the Patriots with coach Jerod Mayo having his own staff, Jones is still seemingly on his way out of New England.

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