Patriots News: Tom Brady, Matt Cassel, Mac Jones, and Tim Tebow
Former NFL general manager believes the Patriots have no reason to get rid of Mac Jones
There has been much discussion surrounding Mac Jones's fate this offseason, which increased when Bill Belichick announced he was leaving the team. Most assume he will either be traded to a team that could use a quarterback or be relegated to the backup role under the expected rookie quarterback who will be drafted later this year.
Although many fans and reporters have already decided he has no place on the team anymore, his performance last season, which ultimately got him benched, there is still an argument to be made that the best thing to do with him is to keep him in New England.
One notable person making that argument is former Tampa Bay Buccaneers GM Mark Dominik, who recently spoke to NBC Sports Boston's Tom Curran about the Patriots' outlook in 2024.
Dominik believes there is no reason for Jones to be anywhere but Foxboro next season, especially since he's still on a rookie contract. On top of that, he believes he deserves another chance to prove what he can do on the field with new coaches and a presumably improved offense and declared he would want him on his team if he were still a GM in the league.
"There's no reason to get rid of Mac Jones. If he gets into a game, can we still have a chance to win? Yes, I believe that. Financially, it's a bargain at this point. It's a bargain because I've already eaten the signing bonus, I already know what that is, so now I'm just basically paying the Paragraph 5 (base salary, which for Jones is $2.8 million in 2024). When you look at the world of backup quarterbacks and their salary, you're going to be hard-pressed to do better. And he still wants to prove something. He's got a new staff to prove something and he's still going to be hungry.
"He doesn't want his NFL career to end, so it's not like he's going to be sitting in a corner feeling bad for himself. He knows he's going to have to work, and I think he's got that type of personality. When you talk to Alabama guys, they all love Mac Jones. He's not a bad teammate or a bad guy. From my perspective, I would want that guy on my football team because of the salary cap and the implications of what he can do."
He certainly makes a lot of good points, and it may actually be how Mayo approaches the situation, especially since they will be bringing in a new quarterback, whether via free agency or the draft.
Having a backup who understands the system on a cheap contract benefits the team, and even if Jones isn't a star, he doesn't have to be in a backup role.