Pro Bowler quarterback Mac Jones could be auditioning for a new role this season and Panthers, Chiefs could be his next teams in 2025. According to multiple reports, starting signal-caller Trevor Lawrence is officially heading to the IR to get shoulder surgery after a brutal hit from Texans’ Azeez Al-Shaair. The Jacksonville Jaguars will turn to Mac Jones as the starter for the rest of the season as one source claims this could be the perfect opportunity for him to put on a show. Jones will become a free agent in March as the Jaguars surprisingly declined his fifth-year option despite trading for him this past offseason.
Originally selected in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Alabama product began his tenure with the New England Patriots as one of the top quarterback prospects from the draft that year. He beat out Cam Newton for the starting job after Bill Belichick was struggling to find the next leader post-Tom Brady era and became the first quarterback drafted in the first round since Drew Bledsoe. Jones made first impressions that rookie year, finishing the campaign with 3,801 passing yards, 22 touchdowns and a 67.6 completion percentage. However, new offensive coordinator Matt Patricia came in as the new play-caller following the departure of Josh McDaniels so Jones wasn’t the same player everyone remembers in his rookie season.
After suffering an early injury, backup Bailey Zappe came in to take over until Jones returned. It didn’t help Jones since they brought another offensive coordinator the following season after displaying poor effort where the Patriots replaced him again with Zappe. No one is taking Lawrence’s job after signing a monster contract extension this past offseason, so this is Jones’ opportunity to show teams for the next free agency he could be a dependable leader.
Pro Bowler Mac Jones With “Promise” Could Be Auditioning For New Role – Panthers, Chiefs Next Possible Teams?
Scenery Shift in Carolina?
The Carolina Panthers season is over but they have plenty of issues to address this upcoming offseason about the future of Bryce Young. They benched him in favor of Andy Dalton but it was never enough for him to become a full-time starter again. Dalton is nothing more but a bridge quarterback who’s only efficient when it comes to roster depth since he’s getting older. The Panthers had all the tools together but there wasn’t any chemistry on display to show that they were going anywhere any further than just a couple of wins in their possession.
With Diontae Johnson gone and Adam Thielen possibly leaving, the Panthers are finding themselves in a rebuilding era. It’s safe to assume someone like Mac Jones could benefit from a team that needs a new quarterback even though Young is showing some improvement. New reports came out that they’re not looking to draft a new quarterback so the Panthers could turn to free agency to increase competition for Young. Head Coach Dave Canales does not believe in Young and his recent benching shows that so they could sign Jones this offseason to see what he has to offer.
Backing up Patrick Mahomes
There’s no better place for Mac Jones to excel than the Kansas City Chiefs. Jones has gone through several offensive coordinators in his early career and never really had a legitimate supporting cast. Patrick Mahomes is one of the greatest quarterbacks in this era and no one is ever taking his job. Despite that, he’s having his struggles but to no fault of his own, there has been a lack of consistent receivers for Mahomes to throw the ball to.
Jones won’t start but he could spend the next two years behind Mahomes to learn and build off of that foundation with a new team that needs a quarterback. The Chiefs may have Carson Wentz but no one knows how well he can play anymore, especially coming off his poor performance with a decent supporting cast with the Eagles.
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