The Patriots find themselves in a tricky situation heading into their Week 6 matchup with the Raiders this Sunday. After suffering back-to-back embarrassing losses, it's evident changes need to be made to get the season back on track.
But there's one big problem with that: what are those changes, and how do they get it done?
Bill Belichick claimed they would be switching things up after the latest loss to the Saints but wouldn't specify what that entailed. The immediate assumption is a change at quarterback since Mac Jones has not performed well as of late, but there may be some other options as well.
Despite the hole they've gotten themselves into, there is still time to turn things around. It's more of a matter of what that looks like that will determine how the rest of the season goes.
It seems there are three most likely scenarios they will follow as soon as possible.
Bench Mac Jones and elevate Malik Cunningham or Will Grier to QB1
Because Jones has been put in the center of most of the chaos this season, it doesn't seem like a stretch to say that Belichick may decide to bench him at some point if his play does not improve.
Regardless of who is really at fault for his poor performances, the NFL is a "what have you done for me lately?" league, and if the quarterback is losing games for you, then most coaches will want to take him out of the equation.
If that is the case for the Patriots, that would leave them with Malik Cunningham and Will Grier as the best choices to replace Jones. Considering how Bailey Zappe has looked in the two games he was put in for this season, and based on how he played throughout the preseason, it would seem as though he would be out of the running to become the starter for the offense.
Deciding between Cunningham and Grier would be an interesting decision for Belichick and the coaching staff.
If the plan is to keep up with the ever-changing direction of how offense is played in the NFL, going with a mobile player like Cunningham fits the bill. He's a dual threat who can get the job done with his legs, which is not something the Patriots have been known for with their quarterbacks over the years. But with mobility becoming more of a vital aspect of a quarterback's game, they may need to switch it up and test out Cunningham.
During his five years at Louisville, he recorded 619 carries for 3,182 yards and 50 touchdowns. He was impressive during the summer practices and willing to do whatever it took to make the team, even learning to play receiver if needed.
Grier is more of the prototypical player Belichick liked under center, which could give him a slight edge over the rookie. Although he hasn't started or played in a game since the 2019 season, the Patriots liked what they saw from him during his time in Dallas enough to sign him to the 53-man roster.
Since Grier's play is similar to what Belichick has grown comfortable with, it wouldn't be surprising to see him get the nod if Jones is benched. It's difficult to say if either quarterback would really be an upgrade over him because we haven't seen them on the field much since arriving in New England. But if the head coach decides that Jones isn't the guy, he seems on board with risking success by trying something new.
Become big sellers by the trade deadline to compile picks
No matter what is decided about Mac Jones and the quarterback situation for the rest of the season, it wouldn't be surprising to see the Patriots become big sellers before the trade deadline at the end of the month.
It's possible the team has already concluded that Jones is not the right guy for the job in New England, or that could be decided at some point this year. If that's the case, Belichick may choose to ship out some of their more desirable players to receive quality draft picks in return.
Compiling picks for a draft with a highly regarded quarterback class could be in their best interest, whether they land high enough in the first round due to their record at the end of the year or hope to compile enough to trade up to get the guy they want. It doesn't seem out of the question as a possibility for a team in their position.
They will also have a good selection of high-performing wide receivers and offensive tackles, both of which are some of the weakest parts of the team this season.
Ride it out with Mac Jones for the rest of the season
Probably the most likely scenario of all is the decision to ride it out with Mac Jones as the starting quarterback for the entire 2023 season and deal with whatever that means at the end of the year.
Because the roster does not currently have a more viable candidate to take over under center, keeping the quarterback who has been the starter for the team since 2021 would make the most sense regardless of how he performs.
There's no sense in denying that Jones was not set up to succeed this season with the mediocre offensive roster surrounding him. From the lack of proper depth on the offensive line to trying to hide the fact there is no game-changing wide receiver on the team, he's had a lot of obstacles to overcome that have been the cause of some struggles he's faced.
He has also created difficult situations for himself and the team with bad decision-making and turnovers that put them in a hole early on, but benching him for the season feels a bit unjust when how the team has fared this season doesn't solely fall on his shoulders.
Given the current landscape of the AFC, it would seem improbable that the Patriots will be a competitive team this year. With their schedule being the most difficult in the league and the tension within the team due to their questionable performances, getting back on track enough to get into postseason contention is improbable, making the decision to ride with Jones potentially easier to deal with.
It all depends on what the goal of the season presumably becomes. It may even come down to what Robert Kraft suggests since he's made his disappointment clear about the last three seasons.