New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones (10) Kevin R. Wexler / USA TODAY NETWORK

Mock draft suggests who Patriots will select to replace QB Mac Jones

By Clark Dalton | Last updated 11/27/23

The Patriots should move on from quarterback Mac Jones after he was benched for the fourth time this season in Sunday's loss to the Giants. A new mock draft has New England selecting his replacement.

The 33rd Team's Connor Livesay predicts the Patriots (2-9) will select North Carolina QB Drake Maye with the third overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft.

"If you were unsure if the Mac Jones era with the New England Patriots was already over, Sunday's loss to the New York Giants all but confirmed it," Livesay wrote of the selection. "The QB1 battle is unresolved, and it likely won't be any time soon. With either Caleb Williams or Drake Maye, the Patriots' offense finally will get an athletic quarterback who can operate off-script when needed."

Through 12 games, Maye is seventh in the FBS in passing yards (3,608) and tied for 19th in passing TDs (24). ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. recently rated him as his second-best quarterback, touting his athleticism and ability to make various throws.

Drake Maye with the TD pass to Nate McCollum for 46 yards pic.twitter.com/jy9hlMRDZY
— Ian Valentino (@NFLDraftStudy) September 16, 2023

"He looks the part of an NFL signal-caller," Kiper Jr. wrote of the 21-year-old. "He can make every throw with ease. He's accurate on the move and can pick up first downs with his legs."

The Patriots might make major changes this offseason. Head coach Bill Belichick is reportedly on the hot seat. The six-time Super Bowl champion has logged a 27-34 record since Tom Brady's departure in 2019.

A new HC probably can't salvage Jones, though. This season, the former first-round pick has thrown more interceptions (12) than TDs (10) and posted a below-average 77 passer rating. QB2 Bailey Zappe isn't a viable starter, either. The 24-year-old has registered an 82.2 passer rating in two seasons.

Clearly, the Patriots must enter rebuilding mode and find a new franchise centerpiece, so it makes sense for New England to take a QB and let Jones get a fresh start elsewhere.

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