Patriots reporter offers Mac Jones, Lamar Jackson updates

The New England Patriots are doing an excellent job of hiding it if they're seriously considering replacing quarterback Mac Jones with Baltimore Ravens star Lamar Jackson or a rookie signal-caller.

On Monday, New England insider Chad Graff of The Athletic explained that "barring something unforeseen, Jones will be the Patriots' starting quarterback in Week 1" of the 2023 NFL season. Graff also wrote that the Patriots are "not in on Lamar Jackson" and are "not expected to select a quarterback early in the NFL Draft" on April 27. 

It's been thought throughout the spring that New England will not sacrifice the draft picks and money needed to land Jackson. Baltimore used the non-exclusive franchise tag to retain his rights for 2023 last month, meaning the club can either match any offer he receives from a different team or accept two first-round draft picks in return for the one-time NFL Most Valuable Player. 

Numerous reports have said Jackson wants more than the $230M in fully guaranteed money signal-caller Deshaun Watson received from the Cleveland Browns last year. 

As for Jones, his name has repeatedly popped up in trade rumors from the winter through this month after he allegedly angered head coach Bill Belichick when he sought coaching advice from outside the Patriots organization when the offense was struggling under assistants Matt Patricia and Joe Judge last season. 

Graff said he "has been unable to confirm that information" but also noted that "there has been no denial from Jones or the Patriots." Graff also wrote that Jones reaching out to outsiders for help is "a near-cardinal sin for Belichick." 

The Patriots hired Bill O'Brien to be their new offensive coordinator earlier this offseason, and Jones recently made it known he's excited for a fresh start with O'Brien. That fresh start likely will involve Jones competing with 2022 rookie Bailey Zappe for the starting job this summer. While Patriots linebacker Josh Uche referred to Jones as "our quarterback" last week, Zappe appears to have more than a couple of friends and fans inside the New England locker room. 

"They’re committed to each other for 2023, and the hope is this will all be forgotten by the end of the year," Graff wrote of the relationship between Jones and Belichick. Graff added that the "fence needs some mending" as it pertains to that relationship.