The New England Patriots found their new star quarterback for the next decade or more in Drake Maye, but before the UNC standout landed in New England, there were years of turmoil. After Tom Brady's departure, the Patriots signed Cam Newton, who was succeeded by Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe.
Eventually, the team opted for Jacoby Brissett to start the year in 2024 before Maye took the reins and never looked back.
Newton was a short-term fix, and Zappe was a flash in the pan, and Brissett was only ever meant to be a bridge to Maye. In 2021, however, the hype around Mac Jones was at an all-time high. The Alabama star finished second in OROY voting and finished the year with 22 touchdowns to 13 interceptions and over 3,800 yards.
He led the Patriots to a 10-7 record and a playoff berth, but an 8-9 finish in 2022 would reveal doubters. 2023 saw an even further drop off, and he was traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
In his lone year in Jacksonville, he finished with nine touchdowns and nine turnovers in ten games played while sporting a 65.3% completion rate. Jones signed with the Niners this offseason as a backup to Brock Purdy, but has stood out in Mr. Irrelevant's absence. In eight starts, he has 2,100 yards and a completion rate just shy of 70%. He has 13 touchdowns to six interceptions, and was 5-3 in Purdy's absence.
Now, just a few seasons removed from his dismal 2023 showing that eventually led to him being a healthy scratch in Week 18, ESPN's Rich Cimini suggested he could be traded to the Jets as the team's 2026 starter.
Mac Jones could be a fit for the New York Jets after disastrous season with Justin Fields
Justin Fields has proven he isn't the answer for the Jets long term, and while 36-year-old Tyrod Taylor coming in as a spot starter may help them be more competitive than they've been for the rest of the season, that, too, isn't a long-term solution.
While Jones may not be the solution for the next decade either, he could help the team be more competitive than they've been over the past few years and be a more than capable bridge option.
The Jets will likely take a quarterback at the top of the 2026 Draft. Alabama's Ty Simpson, Indiana's Fernando Mendoza, and Oregon's Dante Moore seem likely to be the first three off the board at the position, but that shouldn't stop the Jets from taking a hard look at Jones.
We've seen what confidence and a change of scenery can do for players once considered busts: Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, and Daniel Jones are all having excellent seasons. If New York could deal a fifth-round pick to the Niners for the opportunity at the same career resurrection, it's worth the minimal risk.
Acquiring Jones wouldn't keep them from taking one of the top quarterbacks either: the former Patriot will have one year left on his contract at the end of the year, meaning the Jets could seamlessly part ways with him after next year.
The Patriots facing their former signal caller would be an incredible story, and facing Jones twice in 2026 seems far from unreasonable. If Aaron Glenn, a defensive coach, wants to opt for a game-managing quarterback that can limit turnovers while Breece Hall remains the focal point, Mac could very well be the guy.
Cimini also mentioned Kyler Murray and Kirk Cousins as potential options as future foes for the Patriots. Both would come at a far greater financial price, and even if they are released, they will no doubt have other suitors in the open market. Jones seems not only a capable but also a legitimate option for the Jets' starting job in '26.