Doug Pederson discusses Mac Jones joining Jaguars

Head coach Doug Pederson spoke with reporters during a Tuesday news conference about the Jacksonville Jaguars taking a flier on former New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones back in March.

"He’s done a great job since he’s been here, spending time studying the offense, getting caught up in the offense," Pederson said about Jones, per Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk. "... I liked him coming out of college when looking at quarterbacks back then. We’re excited to have him. It gives us a great room with he and (fellow backup C.J. Beathard) as kind of competing in that role. And he’s done a nice job."

Former Patriots head coach Bill Belichick pulled Jones from games four different times during the 2023 season, and the 2021 first-round draft pick spent the campaign's final six contests as a benched backup. 

Under new head coach Jerod Mayo, the Patriots dramatically changed their quarterback room this offseason by trading Jones, signing veteran Jacoby Brissett and drafting both Drake Maye and Joe Milton III.

"He throws a really nice ball," Pederson continued while speaking about Jones. "He’s smart. He’s eccentric — he can be a little quirky at times. You see him out there on the field doing some different things. But that’s the joy and the fun, I think, that he wanted to get back to a little bit. He’s done a great job for us."

The Jaguars seemingly are close to signing starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence to a contract extension ahead of Lawrence's fourth NFL season. 

Jones may not have much of a future with the organization beyond the upcoming campaign, but Pederson sounded optimistic that the Jacksonville native could enjoy a needed career reset with the Jaguars from now through February 2025.

"I think a change of scenery sometimes is good for players, for coaches," Pederson added about Jones. "For him to get back here around family and friends has been good for him. I think he’s embraced it since he’s been here."

Pederson and others on his staff likely hope that Jones will defeat Beathard, a 30-year-old career journeyman, in a summer competition for the primary backup job just in case the club is without Lawrence for any reason this fall. 

If, however, Jones flops from training camp through the preseason, some will understandably wonder if his New England tenure left him damaged beyond repair.