The New England Patriots have uncertainty at the QB position going forward, so they should be open to making some QB trades now and in the near future. Mac Jones has not shown consistency as starter of the team, and I think it'd be wise for the Pats to keep taking shots at the position until they find a true franchise signal-caller.
Jones had a very good day in Week 7 versus the Buffalo Bills and looked every bit like a franchise QB, but he's not done that consistently. The Pats should take a look at the trade deadline market and should even see what veteran QBs could be available via trade next offseason to try and find their guy. Depending on where they fall in the 2024 NFL Draft order, the team might in line to take one of the better QB prospects in the 2024 class.
Let's create a view QB trades that the Pats should consider.
3 quarterback trades the New England Patriots should take a chance on
1. See what Sam Darnold is up to
Sam Darnold was the third overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft and has not been able to break through as a franchise QB in the NFL. He's spent time with the New York Jets, Carolina Panthers, and is now on the San Francisco 49ers. In 2022 with the Panthers, he went 4-2 as a starter and threw seven touchdowns against three interceptions. Darnold could be a low-risk, high-reward player who might be able to give Mac Jones some tough competition.
Darnold could also be a very good player to keep as the future QB2 in New England.
2. Inquire about a Justin Fields trade if Chicago has top pick in 2024 NFL Draft
I think Justin Fields could be on the move if the Chicago Bears have a shot at drafting Caleb Williams in the 2024 NFL Draft. Williams has largely been viewed as a generational QB prospect with a similar makeup to Patrick Mahomes. Justin Fields is also on the shelf with a dislocated thumb, so him not being on the field isn't doing him any favors.
The Bears may also clean house at some point and bring in a new regime from top to bottom. If they do that, I don't think Fields sticks around. He has played better this year and looks to be trending up. On the season, he's thrown 11 touchdowns, six interceptions, and has gradually improved statistically since entering the league in 2021.
Fields also brings an element with his legs that makes him a more explosive player than Mac Jones. BIll O'Brien has worked with dual-threat QBs before, and if he sticks around as the offensive coordinator, Fields might have a chance in New England. Lastly, if the Bears are in that #1 overall spot and the "secret" is out that they plan on drafting Caleb Williams, they wouldn't have much leverage in trade negotiations with Fields.
3. Go all out and trade for Kyler Murray next offseason
There's been light speculation that the Arizona Cardinals could trade Kyler Murray. The front office that drafted and extended Kyler Murray is no longer with the team. The new regime of GM Monti Ossenfort and HC Jonathan Gannon don't really have any sort of long-term commitment to Murray if they don't want it.
Moreover, Murray's contract is quite moveable if they wanted to get out of it. Right now, nothing seems to be guaranteed. I think if the Cardinals earn the #1 overall pick in 2024, they'd seriously consider resetting their QB situation and moving on from Murray. Right now, they are the only one-win team in the NFL and currently hold the #2 overall pick.
Arizona also holds the Houston Texans' first-round pick in 2024 as well. Honestly, if you're the Cardinals, potentially getting a haul back for Murray that includes another first-round pick and some change, along with the cap relief from not having his contract on the books might be too good to pass up.
They probably wants to see what they have in Murray first before making a move of this magnitude, but this is also the franchise that said "Josh Rosen is our guy," before going out and drafting Murray in the following NFL Draft. Well, is "Kyler Murray our guy?" Only time will tell.