New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones (10) drops back to pass during the first half against the Chicago Bears at Gillette Stadium. Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports

Insider says Patriots could part with Mac Jones before next season

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 10/30/22

Although New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick stated that Mac Jones will be the team’s starting quarterback on Sunday against the New York Jets, Jones’ long-term future in New England is still up in the air.

The second-year QB was benched in favor of rookie Bailey Zappe after just three drives and six pass attempts in the Pats’ 33-14 loss to the Chicago Bears last week, prompting many, including Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports to question if the Patriots could move on from Jones before next season.

“There will be a market for him,” La Canfora said on a recent episode of the “Inside the Huddle” podcast. “There are a lot of bad quarterbacks in the league right now. That’s where I think it’s headed. I talked to a GM this morning. He was pretty adamant that, ‘I think Mac Jones will be available by the combine one way or the other, whether Bailey Zappe looks like he’s the answer or whether Bailey Zappe doesn’t.”

Bailey Zappe's 30-yard pass to Jakobi Meyers was his 3rd Pass TD of 25+ yards this season.

That's as many as Mac Jones has in his career. pic.twitter.com/dkyydINqp0
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 25, 2022

After passing for 3,801 yards and 22 touchdowns as a rookie last year, Jones appears to have regressed in Year 2. He’s passed for just 799 yards in four games and he has just two touchdowns to six interceptions.

Conversely, Zappe has passed for 781 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions, and he’s led New England to two of its three wins this year.

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