Patriots decision to trade Mac Jones looks even better after latest update

The start of Mac Jones' NFL career was quite the roller coaster, going from bringing the Patriots to the playoffs as a rookie and earning Pro Bowl honors to struggling throughout his sophomore season, which continued into last year and ultimately got him permanently benched.

It culminated in his eventual trade earlier this offseason, which was bound to happen, whether by the new regime or if Bill Belichick had remained with the team.

The good part for the quarterback, though, was Jerod Mayo and Eliot Wolf reportedly spoke to Jones about the decision to part ways with him and involved him in the conversation regarding what team he might like to go to.

That's partly why he landed with the Jaguars, his hometown team, and based on what we've seen since he arrived in Florida, he's looking happier than ever to be there.

Patriots decision to trade Mac Jones looks even better after latest update

Jones's tenure in New England made it easy to feel bad for the young player. When he was drafted 15th overall in 2021, there was excitement amongst the fans that the team potentially found their next franchise quarterback, who was coming off a championship-winning season with Alabama.

Despite a less-than-ideal roster to work with, Jones played well above expectations as a rookie and set the bar high for the following season. But that's when it all fell apart.

Improper roster building, the hiring of questionable coaches, and chaos behind the scenes dramatically impacted the quarterback on and off the field. The 2022 season took its toll on him and appeared to rip away any confidence he had to start fresh last year.

All of that coupled with his desire to make big plays and get back in the good graces of his coaches and teammates, resulted in more turnovers than touchdowns, ultimately forcing Belichick to bench him four times before keeping him sidelined for Bailey Zappe the rest of the season.

It was clear the partnership was over. Jones looked defeated, and Belichick looked fed up, so moving on was the best course of action for all involved. Despite having some sympathy and understanding for his unfair tenure in Foxboro, Jones appears to be thriving in Jacksonville while the Patriots are enjoying their new quarterback, Drake Maye.

It looks like a win/win situation for the Patriots and for Jones, who is able to reunite with his family in the town he grew up and for the team he cheered for as a child. Based on the recent video posted by the NFL, he is having fun with his new teammates and is looking much happier than he had during nearly his entire time with the Patriots, which is hard to be upset about.

Meanwhile, the Patriots are enjoying their presumed next franchise quarterback in Maye and the potential of Joe Milton III, who could be a secret weapon for their team for years to come.

More Patriots coverage: