Looking a three potential Mac Jones replacements beginning in 2024
The New England Patriots may have a QB issue on their hands if Mac Jones does not develop to what many think he can in 2023. Let's look at three Mac Jones replacements for 2024 and beyond. If the Patriots are starting someone other than Mac Jones in 2024, something went wrong in 2023.
The most ideal scenario is Mac Jones shutting the door with absurd efficiency on any questions about the QB situation in New England. Bill O'Brien has worked with young quarterbacks before, and has gotten a bit of success with them.
This bodes well for Mac Jones, but there is always the possibility that Jones simply isn't a franchise QB in the NFL. That is a distinct possibility, no matter how optimistic the fanbase wants to be about the third-year pro from Alabama.
Could the Patriots bring in a legitimate Mac Jones replacement in 2024? They sure could. Let's take a dive into three of those potential replacements.
Looking a three potential Mac Jones replacements beginning in 2024
1. Kyler Murray, QB, Arizona Cardinals
I think there is a real chance that Kyler Murray is traded in the 2024 NFL offseason. If so, the Patriots could have interest if things go south with Mac Jones. Murray was drafted by a regime in Arizona that is no longer there. That shame regime also seemed to cave and sign him to a long-term extension before they wanted do.
With a new regime in town and a clear path to the #1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Cardinals might prefer Caleb Williams instead of Kyler Murray. They might want to reset their QB situation and could probably get a bit of a haul for Murray, who is also rehabbing a torn ACL.
I truly believe the Patriots would make a run at Kyler Murray. They'd get a QB in his mid-20s who is a true dual-threat player. His contract does get quite large in a couple of years in terms of cap hits, but that could be worked around. Murray gives the Pats a fighting chance in a division with Josh Allen, Tua Tagovailoa, and Aaron Rodgers.
2. Kirk Cousins (or the like)
The second option to QB the Patriots in the 2024 season is someone in the tier of Kirk Cousins or someone similar. Players who would fit this mold include Cousins, Andy Dalton, Teddy Bridgewater, Jacoby Brissett, Gardner Minshew, etc. This option is supposed to provide that high-floor type of QB play.
These players are consistent--consistently average, which is fine. You know what you're going to get from these types of players, and it might benefit the Pats to start one in 2024 as a bit of a roster reset would likely be happening at the same time. This would certainly not be the sexiest situation, but it could be very needed if the QB situation in 2023 isn't anything to talk about.
3. Someone from the 2024 NFL Draft
Maybe the course of action for the team in 2024 is to draft a quarterback with their first-round pick and make him an immediate starter. I think if the team does take a first-round QB, Bill Belichick is not the head coach of the team anymore.
I truly think this is his last chance unless the team can make the playoffs. Belichick's rope might be getting too short for comfort. The first job when a new regime takes over for an NFL franchise is to make sure they have the QB position right.
Well, that would be no different for the New England Patriots. Fortunately, the projected QB class in 2024 expects to be quite strong at the moment. Perhaps this could benefit the team when April comes around.