Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports

Perhaps there’s a glimmer of hope for Mac Jones in the eyes of Colin Cowherd, suggesting that the New England Patriots could opt to invest in the young quarterback rather than hastily parting ways with him.

In a recent episode of The Herd, Cowherd put forth the notion that Jones, despite his rocky debut season, exhibited promising flashes that warrant further exploration.

He contends that with the right supporting cast, Jones could yet blossom into a cornerstone for the Patriots’ future.

“I’m not so sure,” Cowherd said. “I have no problem trading down once or twice. Getting a tight end. Getting a receiver. Getting a left tackle. Getting a more long-term sustainable running back. I have no problem with that and giving Mac Jones, with a competent offensive coordinator, a year.”

“You can all bang on Mac Jones. Go back to year one. This was pre-Belichick holding a grudge against him. He had a top-10 run game in New England and a good offensive coordinator. I’ll show you some highlights from that year. He made the Pro Bowl. He was actually pretty good.”

However, Cowherd’s optimism is tempered by the reality of the Patriots’ organizational overhaul.

With a fresh coaching staff and new decision-makers at the helm, the allegiance to Jones may wane. While Jones might secure a backup role for the upcoming season, the incoming general manager, head coach, and offensive coordinator are more inclined to usher in their own preferred signal-caller, rather than adhering to Bill Belichick’s prior selection.

Although there have been instances where young quarterbacks have been afforded additional opportunities despite regime changes, such occurrences are rare. Consequently, the likelihood of Mac Jones being retained under the new Patriots regime seems slim.

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