Contract Terms
According to multiple reports, the New England Patriots are finalizing a deal to send quarterback Mac Jones to the Jacksonville Jaguars. The trade cannot be processed until the new league year begins Wednesday and he passes a physical. Sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter that the two sides were discussing a sixth-round pick.
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Fantasy Football Impact
Jones, a former first-round pick, lost the starting role in New England amid his third season in the NFL.
As Profootballtalk.com's Mike Florio noted, the collapse for Jones started in his second season, when Belichick made Matt Patricia the de facto offensive coordinator in New England. The move delayed Jones' growth and stunted it, sparking a regression that the Patriots, under new offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien, spent all of 2023 trying to undo.
In 11 starts, the 25-year-old threw for 2,120 passing yards, 10 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions, compiling a 2-9 record.
Now, Jones, born in Jacksonville, has the chance to play in his hometown, where he will be Trevor Lawrence's backup.
Jones will make $2.785 million this year, guaranteed. The Jags now hold his fifth-year option of more than $25 million. It won't be picked up.
Footballguy Jason Wood summed the trade up nicely: "It makes a ton of sense. Jones should be a super high-end backup and won't have any illusions of competing for a starting role behind a same-aged franchise quarterback about to get a massive extension."
The Fantasy Football Fallout
The fallout on the Jacksonville side of this equation is pretty simple: There will be none, barring injury to Lawrence. That said, should Jones be forced into action, having a quarterback with starting experience and a first-round draft pedigree will be encouraging for the supporting cast members fantasy managers are most likely to be invested in: Travis Etienne Jr., Christian Kirk, Evan Engram, and Calvin Ridley, should he re-sign with the team as an unrestricted free agent.
On the other side of this deal, our own Dave Kluge chimed in by noting, "I'd imagine the Pats are set on drafting a QB [with the No. 3 pick overall in April's draft], but we might see some early-season Bailey Zappe."
That said, given the overall uncertainty that comes with a coaching change, the uncertainty at quarterback, and last year's poor offensive showing, forecasting major shifts in value for players like Demario Douglas, the newly-re-signed Hunter Henry, DeVante Parker, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Tyquan Thornton, Kayshon Boutte, and unrestricted free agent Kendrick Bourne isn't in the cards.
Rhamdonre Stevenson's value will likely remain flat on this news as well.
Beyond the direct implications, Kluge contends this news suggests the "Justin Fields market is getting bleaker by the day." Kluge went on to acknowledge, "Comparing Fields to Jones is obviously to oranges. But if all the Pats can get for Jones is a sixth-rounder, the Bears might have to settle for a Day 3 pick for Fields. I tweeted it a few weeks ago, but I'm not entirely sure Fields is a Week 1 starter next year."
Stock Watch
Risers
- None
Fallers
Overview
The New England Patriots are trading quarterback Mac Jones to the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for a late-round draft pick. Jones will return to his hometown to serve as Trevor Lawrence's backup. At the same time, the Jaguars gain an experienced backup with a strong collegiate pedigree. Unless they've invested in Jones in Dynasty formats, fantasy managers neither gain nor lose from this move.
