- Joined
- Apr 4, 2013
- Messages
- 10,317
- Reaction score
- 11,155
NFL insider believes Mac Jones' cause is lost in New England
I agree with Breer, so I want to explore what the options might be for finding Mac a new home, and the Patriots a new QB. If you disagree that Mac needs to go please discuss that point of view too. Particularly whether Mac has any whiff of hope to be the starter, or is his only future in Foxboro as backup to some QB who isn’t even on the roster yet?
Same question applies to other teams. Do they still see him as a potential starter, or is he now viewed only as a backup?
it seems to me that the best possible scenario would be trading Mac like for like, for another rookie prospect who flamed out on the big stage. But I don’t follow the rest of the NFL closely enough to know if there are any likely trading partners for such a move. Any ideas?
if not a player for player swap, what teams might be in the market, and what would a fair trade look like? I’m sure we Pats fans will have our usual inflated sense of trade value, how strong his market is. Is there even any market for him at all? If there’s no market does he just get cut, to finish getting the toxic residue of the past couple of seasons out of the building?
I think the Pats need to make at least three, or oossibly four moves to address the QB need.
First I‘d like to see Mac traded, ideally for a QB with some NFL experience. A like for like trade for a rookie who failed to live up to expectations seems ideal, to give them both a chance at a fresh start. A good outcome would be getting a serviceable backup, with upside as potential starter. If no player trade can be found take the best draft pick offered. If none keep Mac on the 90 and cut him before the season starts even if it’s just to keep Zappe (more on him in a moment).
Second, sign a free agent veteran QB. Same expected outcome, a serviceable backup, with upside as potential starter. Not sure who I’d prefer but there are certainly a fair number of good candidates. Plenty of room for discussion here.
Third, assuming the first two moves yield two players with NFL experience at QB, draft an OT at #3 and the best available QB as soon after as possible, trading up if necessary to do so. If Mac doesn’t get traded for another QB consider reversing my preferences, taking a QB at #3 and OT as soon as possible thereafter. Trading up to get good players at both positions would be great. I hope other folks were learning from watching Bill concoct draft day trades! To me OT is priority, as was said in another thread a bad LT can ruin a rookie QB, but not the other way round.
Fourth, double dip at QB in the draft. Take the best available prospect early, then later draft for value with a solid but raw developmental prospect.
Zappe might be worth keeping as backup, but I don’t think he’ll ever be a solid starter and I think the backup has to be able to start a few games over a season so as much as I like Zappe I’d prefer to see an upgrade.
That‘s how I see it, what are your thoughts?
I agree with Breer, so I want to explore what the options might be for finding Mac a new home, and the Patriots a new QB. If you disagree that Mac needs to go please discuss that point of view too. Particularly whether Mac has any whiff of hope to be the starter, or is his only future in Foxboro as backup to some QB who isn’t even on the roster yet?
Same question applies to other teams. Do they still see him as a potential starter, or is he now viewed only as a backup?
it seems to me that the best possible scenario would be trading Mac like for like, for another rookie prospect who flamed out on the big stage. But I don’t follow the rest of the NFL closely enough to know if there are any likely trading partners for such a move. Any ideas?
if not a player for player swap, what teams might be in the market, and what would a fair trade look like? I’m sure we Pats fans will have our usual inflated sense of trade value, how strong his market is. Is there even any market for him at all? If there’s no market does he just get cut, to finish getting the toxic residue of the past couple of seasons out of the building?
I think the Pats need to make at least three, or oossibly four moves to address the QB need.
First I‘d like to see Mac traded, ideally for a QB with some NFL experience. A like for like trade for a rookie who failed to live up to expectations seems ideal, to give them both a chance at a fresh start. A good outcome would be getting a serviceable backup, with upside as potential starter. If no player trade can be found take the best draft pick offered. If none keep Mac on the 90 and cut him before the season starts even if it’s just to keep Zappe (more on him in a moment).
Second, sign a free agent veteran QB. Same expected outcome, a serviceable backup, with upside as potential starter. Not sure who I’d prefer but there are certainly a fair number of good candidates. Plenty of room for discussion here.
Third, assuming the first two moves yield two players with NFL experience at QB, draft an OT at #3 and the best available QB as soon after as possible, trading up if necessary to do so. If Mac doesn’t get traded for another QB consider reversing my preferences, taking a QB at #3 and OT as soon as possible thereafter. Trading up to get good players at both positions would be great. I hope other folks were learning from watching Bill concoct draft day trades! To me OT is priority, as was said in another thread a bad LT can ruin a rookie QB, but not the other way round.
Fourth, double dip at QB in the draft. Take the best available prospect early, then later draft for value with a solid but raw developmental prospect.
Zappe might be worth keeping as backup, but I don’t think he’ll ever be a solid starter and I think the backup has to be able to start a few games over a season so as much as I like Zappe I’d prefer to see an upgrade.
That‘s how I see it, what are your thoughts?
Last edited: