Bleacher Report has Mac Jones bouncing back in a big way in 2023
Bleacher Report made predictions for all starting QBs in 2023, and they seem to be pretty high on the idea of Mac Jones bouncing back. I think if Jones were to put up these numbers, the Pats would be battling for one of the top Wild Card spots in 2023.
Jones' 2022 season was perhaps the worst of his entire football career, NFL or otherwise. His rookie season was extremely encouraging, so many of us rightfully thought that Jones was going to pop off a bit in 2022.
Well, turns out that having a defensive coordinator running the offense is a bad idea. Now that the Patriots have fixed that issue and brought in a legitimate offensive mind in Bill O'Brien, Mac Jones should have what he needs to succeed.
The Pats also added players on offense including some reinforcements at tackle, Mike Gesicki, James Robinson, and JuJu Smith-Schuster. I do truly believe that while the Pats need to do more at wide receiver, Mac Jones has a solid situation around him.
If he doesn't bounce back in 2023, the Patriots should move on from him. Let's take a look at what Bleacher Report had to say about the third year QB.
"The New England Patriots seemed to have found a proper heir to Tom Brady following Mac Jones' impressive rookie year, but the Alabama product spiraled in 2022 along with the rest of the New England offense. After making the Pro Bowl in his first season, Jones regressed in almost every major statistical category in Year 2.
- Alex Kay
There is hope for Jones to chalk that performance up to a sophomore slump and revitalize his career thanks to some major coaching staff changes. Gone are head coaching retreads like Joe Judge and Matt Patricia—who seemed out of their depth working in key offensive roles upon their respective returns to the Pats—and in is Bill O'Brien, who will add an edge to New England's offense as its first official coordinator since Josh McDaniels was hired away.
Factor some offensive line improvements, including a trio of rookies joining on Day 3 of the draft, and JuJu Smith-Schuster's signing to bolster the receiving corps and you have the recipe for a resurgent Jones."
Kay hits on the main points of why Jones and the offense stunk it up in 2022 and does seem to think that the additions the team made this offseason will help. Here is their projection for Mac Jones in 2023:
"Projection: 67 percent completion rate, 3,994 passing yards, 25 passing touchdowns; nine interceptions, 51 carries, 136 rushing yards, one rushing touchdown."
- Alex Kay
Nothing too crazy, but clearly a very efficient QB season. Jones would be responsible for 26 total touchdowns and nine interceptions, a near 3:1 ratio. He just misses out on throwing for 4,000 passing yards but also has a very high completion percentage, which is on par for him.
The Pats probably rank in the top 12 or 13 among scoring offenses if Jones produces this output, and if their defense can remain as good as they've been for years, the New England Patriots could be a serious team once again.