3 reasons why QB Mac Jones could start for the Patriots in 2024
3. Directives from above...
I mean, you never know, right? We've seen owners constantly meddle with the rosters, so this would be nothing new. What if Robert Kraft feels a certain way about Mac Jones? What if he believes that Jones has been dealt a tough hand and wants to see him get a fair shot? At this point, it does feel like Kraft would pick Jones over Bill Belichick.
There's reason to believe, for example, that Jets' owner Woody Johnson is forcing Jets' HC Robert Saleh and GM Joe Douglas to keep Zach Wilson in the lineup. Just check out this excerpt from Saleh:
“I don’t know. I’m gonna plead the fifth.”
— Damon Amendolara (@DamonAmendo) November 7, 2023
If Robert Saleh can’t even defend Zach Wilson anymore, imagine what his teammates say privately. pic.twitter.com/Tyg4Q3dkJM
I mean, the Jets keeping Wilson in the lineup doesn't seem like it's the choice of Saleh... There were also some rumors that Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay forced the Colts to move on from Carson Wentz in favor of Matt Ryan. There's also a more recent rumor that Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper forced the Panthers front office to take Bryce Young over CJ Stroud.
We may never know the full truth here, hence why I called them rumors, but what would stop Robert Kraft from forcing his hand on the roster? Kraft could bring in a new regime to try and fix the New England Patriots and essentially force them to start Mac Jones in 2024 just to see if there is anything more there.