Macksonville: Mac Traded to Jaguars

rodderick

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 24, 2009
12,931
Belo Horizonte - Brazil
That’s if you believe that talk radio and the volume posters on this forum represent the general views of the fans. There were plenty of folks done with Mac mid way through 2022, and I doubt BB would have faced any serious backlash for such a trade, assuming there was some decent replacement.
I would argue SoSH and Felger and Mazz had disproportionately more Mac "haters" than the rest of the fan base. People were all in on the "it's all Patricia and Judge's fault" narrative going into 2023.
 

tims4wins

PN23's replacement
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
37,551
Hingham, MA
Thrilled that Mac is gone, and I expect he'll be cut by the end of camp, but he compares pretty wildly well with Trevor! As cited by a Redditor:

Jones - 42 starts, 18-24 W-L, 66.1%, 6.8 YPA, 212 YPG, 46 TD, 36 INT, 15 FMB, 85.8 rating

Lawrence - 50 starts, 20-30 W-L, 63.8%, 6.7 YPA, 235 YPG, 58 TD, 39 INT, 33 FMB, 85.0 rating
Been down this path before, but last 30 starts for Mac 30 TD to 28 INT and 81.1 rating vs. last 34 for Lawrence 38 to 22 and a 92.5 rating.
 

johnmd20

mad dog
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 30, 2003
62,088
New York City
2021 first round QBs.

Trevor. Solid, but not spectacular. It's been 3 years, definitely has had some moments but overall meh. 1 playoff win.(great comeback win, to be fair, but it was against the Chargers)
Zach Wilson. All time bust. Is not an NFL quarterback. Expected to be traded to his 2nd team. Not within a million miles of the playoffs. More of a joke than anything.
Trey Lance. Outside of Russell Wilson trade, one of the worst trades in history. Already on his 2nd team. Barely on the field, let alone the playoffs.
Justin Fields. Better than Zach and Trey. That's about it. Likely will be on his 2nd team very soon. Not close to the playoffs.
Mac Jones. Disaster. Better than Zach, which is saying nothing. Ended Bill Belichick's career. So he goes down as an all time debacle.

Tough year.
 

Smiling Joe Hesketh

Throw Momma From the Train
Moderator
SoSH Member
May 20, 2003
35,912
Deep inside Muppet Labs
Lawrence is an interesting (although flawed) comp, because he had HORRIFIC coaching in his first year under Urban but rebounded to be serviceable/pretty good. For all the talk of Mac getting bad coaching with Patricia, he REGRESSED under a real OC in BoB. Now, Lawrence was number 1 overall for a reason and Mac was 15 for a reason, but it's still a striking difference. Lawrence fought through his adversity. Mac crumbled.
 

NortheasternPJ

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 16, 2004
19,407
2021 first round QBs.

Trevor. Solid, but not spectacular. It's been 3 years, definitely has had some moments but overall meh. 1 playoff win.(great comeback win, to be fair, but it was against the Chargers)
Zach Wilson. All time bust. Is not an NFL quarterback. Expected to be traded to his 2nd team. Not within a million miles of the playoffs. More of a joke than anything.
Trey Lance. Outside of Russell Wilson trade, one of the worst trades in history. Already on his 2nd team. Barely on the field, let alone the playoffs.
Justin Fields. Better than Zach and Trey. That's about it. Likely will be on his 2nd team very soon. Not close to the playoffs.
Mac Jones. Disaster. Better than Zach, which is saying nothing. Ended Bill Belichick's career. So he goes down as an all time debacle.

Tough year.
And while everyone was obsessed with the QB's which basically all suck (even Trevor is meh as you said) while other teams were drafting Chase, Waddle, Surtain, Horn, DaVonta Smith and oh some guy named Micah Parsons at 12! 12!

I wouldn't be surprised if the 2024 Draft looks like a carbon copy of the 2021 draft a few years later. really Kyle Pitts is the only non-QB bust in the top 12
 

Arroyoyo

New Member
Dec 13, 2021
835
As someone else mentioned, a year late. His lack of talent was apparent after last year. It cost us a better return in this inevitable trade.
 

DJnVa

Dorito Dawg
SoSH Member
Dec 16, 2010
54,199
If BB had been allowed to dump Mac last offseason, he likely would have gotten a 3rd. The Kraft's interference cost the Patriots an entire season, and 3 rounds of pick value. I would hope RKK and Jonathan learn something from this but I doubt they will.
Meh. Keeping him and flaming out and earning the #3 pick is a better outcome than a middle of the round pick and paying Baker Mayfield a shit ton of cash. At least to me. YMMV.
 

Hoya81

Member
SoSH Member
Feb 3, 2010
8,494
Lawrence is an interesting (although flawed) comp, because he had HORRIFIC coaching in his first year under Urban but rebounded to be serviceable/pretty good. For all the talk of Mac getting bad coaching with Patricia, he REGRESSED under a real OC in BoB. Now, Lawrence was number 1 overall for a reason and Mac was 15 for a reason, but it's still a striking difference. Lawrence fought through his adversity. Mac crumbled.
Lawrence’s ability to run also makes it a tough comp. Has nearly 1k rushing yards and 11 TDs.
 

sodenj5

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Jul 14, 2005
6,623
CT
2021 first round QBs.

Trevor. Solid, but not spectacular. It's been 3 years, definitely has had some moments but overall meh. 1 playoff win.(great comeback win, to be fair, but it was against the Chargers)
Zach Wilson. All time bust. Is not an NFL quarterback. Expected to be traded to his 2nd team. Not within a million miles of the playoffs. More of a joke than anything.
Trey Lance. Outside of Russell Wilson trade, one of the worst trades in history. Already on his 2nd team. Barely on the field, let alone the playoffs.
Justin Fields. Better than Zach and Trey. That's about it. Likely will be on his 2nd team very soon. Not close to the playoffs.
Mac Jones. Disaster. Better than Zach, which is saying nothing. Ended Bill Belichick's career. So he goes down as an all time debacle.

Tough year.
Lawrence’s arc is interesting. If he wasn’t hyped as a QB savant since high school, most of us would probably look at his career for exactly what it is.

He’s a perfectly good, above average NFL starter, with the upside to be a top 10, maybe top 5 guy.

Instead, his career is looked at largely as a disappointment so far, because he’s only been pretty good, not Patrick Mahomes level of instant success and stardom.
 

Southpaw12

New Member
Mar 6, 2023
6
Do we know if Sophie Scott was included in the deal?
Seriously though, good riddance Mac. Your noodle arm, redzone turnovers, and false sense of entitlement will not be missed.
 

DJnVa

Dorito Dawg
SoSH Member
Dec 16, 2010
54,199
Do we know if Sophie Scott was included in the deal?
Seriously though, good riddance Mac. Your noodle arm, redzone turnovers, and false sense of entitlement will not be missed.
Mac only has 3 red zone interceptions in his career.
 

johnmd20

mad dog
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 30, 2003
62,088
New York City
Mac only has 3 red zone interceptions in his career.
Hard to throw red zone INTs when you rarely make it to the red zone.

Just kidding, kind of. Josh Allen had 5 red zone INTs in 2022. Only 1 in 23 though.

Mahomes had 3 in 22 and 2 last year. Mac's red zone ints are actually somewhat low. But, again, you need to get to the red zone to throw RZ ints.
 

DJnVa

Dorito Dawg
SoSH Member
Dec 16, 2010
54,199
Hard to throw red zone INTs when you rarely make it to the red zone.

Just kidding, kind of. Josh Allen had 5 red zone INTs in 2022. Only 1 in 23 though.

Mahomes had 3 in 22 and 2 last year. Mac's red zone ints are actually somewhat low. But, again, you need to get to the red zone to throw RZ ints.
Yeah. There's plenty to bag on him about. But, you know, someone was wrong on the internet!!!

Mac in the red zone though:

2021: 101.2 16/1 TD/INT
2022: 93.3 8/1
2023: 102.3 8/1
 

Reverse Curve

New Member
Sep 11, 2021
82
AKA The Mac Jones Depreciation Thread...
Hope he has a reasonably successful NFL career, and glad it's not gonna be here.
 

Toe Nash

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 28, 2005
5,638
02130
Two related thoughts:
  • His problems seemed to be mostly mental so I think he's salvageable (by which I mean, can play at an average level) in the right situation and with the right mentors.
  • There was probably too much baggage here so it's good for all parties to move on
I would have held onto him until preseason, but, whatever.
 

Cellar-Door

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 1, 2006
34,935
Two related thoughts:
  • His problems seemed to be mostly mental so I think he's salvageable (by which I mean, can play at an average level) in the right situation and with the right mentors.
  • There was probably too much baggage here so it's good for all parties to move on
I would have held onto him until preseason, but, whatever.
His mental issues made him unplayable, but he also had physical limitations and technique issues. The selling point on him was supposed to be that his smarts and technique would overcome his limitations, but it turned out he lost his technique when pressured, and his smarts were overrated when faced with tougher NFL reads.

If Mac fixes his mental issues he's probably still a backup/fringe starter
 

rodderick

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 24, 2009
12,931
Belo Horizonte - Brazil
Mental issues are super hard to fix. You can't get coached into being tougher in face of the rush, or being more aggressive down the field. The footwork can be improved when he has a clean pocket, I don't think the back foot BS in response to interior pressure will ever go away. He did in college a ton as well, with incredible protection. What you can do is minimize the issue through scheme or personnel, but it'll always be there, as will the unwillingness/inability to throw the ball on a line.
 

Toe Nash

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 28, 2005
5,638
02130
His mental issues made him unplayable, but he also had physical limitations and technique issues. The selling point on him was supposed to be that his smarts and technique would overcome his limitations, but it turned out he lost his technique when pressured, and his smarts were overrated when faced with tougher NFL reads.

If Mac fixes his mental issues he's probably still a backup/fringe starter
Yes we had millions of posts on this. But he had good games and a whole good season. We will see.
 

Old Fart Tree

the maven of meat
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Jan 10, 2001
14,142
Boulder, CO
Jesus who writes this shit, Jones' agent?

Jones, the No. 15 pick of the 2021 NFL draft, showed promise as a rookie when he was named a Pro Bowl alternate. But his performance declined after a regrettable string of coaching and personnel-related decisions by former head coach Bill Belichick, with Jones also taking accountability for things he could have done better on the field.
 

GrandSlamPozo

New Member
May 16, 2017
105
Yeah. There's plenty to bag on him about. But, you know, someone was wrong on the internet!!!

Mac in the red zone though:

2021: 101.2 16/1 TD/INT
2022: 93.3 8/1
2023: 102.3 8/1
I'd imagine the entire NFL has a higher QB rating in the red zone than they do overall.
 

Archer1979

shazowies
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Jul 18, 2005
7,960
Right Here
I'm glad that they pulled the trigger on this. As long as he was here, there would have been a temptation to rejuvenate his career. Having traded him, I wish him the best of luck in Jacksonville. I'm very skeptical that he is an NFL starting quarterback so he's the Jags problem now.
 

Cellar-Door

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 1, 2006
34,935
I'm glad that they pulled the trigger on this. As long as he was here, there would have been a temptation to rejuvenate his career. Having traded him, I wish him the best of luck in Jacksonville. I'm very skeptical that he is an NFL starting quarterback so he's the Jags problem now.
JAX seems like a bad spot for him honestly. I know the idea is he's with a QB whisperer... but Jax I think graded out either 1st or 2nd in most "quick pressure" plays.... and Mac against quick pressure was..... horrific.
 

Curt S Loew

SoSH Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Apr 12, 2001
6,770
Shantytown
JAX seems like a bad spot for him honestly. I know the idea is he's with a QB whisperer... but Jax I think graded out either 1st or 2nd in most "quick pressure" plays.... and Mac against quick pressure was..... horrific.
Good thing he won't have to play.
 

leftfieldlegacy

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 31, 2005
1,012
North Jersey
Albert Breer was on with Dan Patrick this morning. Patrick asked if he was surprised that the best the Patriots could get for Mac was a 6th round pick. Breer said he wasn't because the Patriots shopped Jones last year but had no takers willing to part with more than a 6th. He said that Jax made the current offer of the 6th last Friday and the Patriots decided to close the deal after they called the 49'ers who wouldn't pay even that...even though they have 11 picks in the upcoming draft. Not a lot of faith in MJ out there.
 

Cellar-Door

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 1, 2006
34,935
Albert Breer was on with Dan Patrick this morning. Patrick asked if he was surprised that the best the Patriots could get for Mac was a 6th round pick. Breer said he wasn't because the Patriots shopped Jones last year but had no takers willing to part with more than a 6th. He said that Jax made the current offer of the 6th last Friday and the Patriots decided to close the deal after they called the 49'ers who wouldn't pay even that...even though they have 11 picks in the upcoming draft. Not a lot of faith in MJ out there.
Feel like one thing with Mac is.... he doesn't have physical tools to dream on. He got arguably overdrafted on the idea that he'd pick things up quick and be a fringy physical guy who got by on technique and reading the D which would make him valuable for his rookie deal at least.... turned out he was bad at those things, so now you're looking at a backup because even if you teach him everything he needs to get better at.... he's at best a low end starter and you only have 1 rookie year left. Justin Fields may not have takers either, but easier to see it because he has elite traits so if you teach him everything he's easily worth a big contract (elite runner).
 

Justthetippett

New Member
Aug 9, 2015
2,517
Feel like one thing with Mac is.... he doesn't have physical tools to dream on. He got arguably overdrafted on the idea that he'd pick things up quick and be a fringy physical guy who got by on technique and reading the D which would make him valuable for his rookie deal at least.... turned out he was bad at those things, so now you're looking at a backup because even if you teach him everything he needs to get better at.... he's at best a low end starter and you only have 1 rookie year left. Justin Fields may not have takers either, but easier to see it because he has elite traits so if you teach him everything he's easily worth a big contract (elite runner).
His physical traits have also declined because his footwork and technique are so bad. So he's underperformed mentally, which has reduced an already narrow path to be being a starter because of his limited athletic skillset. It's not like Cousins has so many more physical tools. But he stands in the pocket and delivers the ball with a solid base and footwork. He's getting the most out of his tools. Mac is not. And that doesn't look fixablebased on his play the last two years.
 

reggiecleveland

sublime
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Mar 5, 2004
28,014
Saskatoon Canada
So Kraft doesn't allow BB to trade Mac last year, forces him to use him, Mac is awful and RK spends his remaining years shitting on BB? Am I missing anything?
 

DJnVa

Dorito Dawg
SoSH Member
Dec 16, 2010
54,199
So Kraft doesn't allow BB to trade Mac last year, forces him to use him, Mac is awful and RK spends his remaining years shitting on BB? Am I missing anything?
only that it’s probably better to move on than re-litigate all this again.
 

mauf

Anderson Cooper × Mr. Rogers
Moderator
SoSH Member
Jun 22, 2008
36,121
My son considers this trade a waste of a 6th-round pick. I think you have to reserve judgment until you see what they do with the money they saved — Mitch Trubisky made $5.6M in Pittsburgh last season, so as disappointing as Mac has been, he’s still underpaid.

Edit: And now Drew Lock has signed with the Giants for $5M — which given Daniel Jones’s injury history is a much more attractive situation for a backup QB than Jacksonville. So yeah, the Jags basically sold a 6th-round pick for $3M.
 
Last edited:

Smiling Joe Hesketh

Throw Momma From the Train
Moderator
SoSH Member
May 20, 2003
35,912
Deep inside Muppet Labs
Mike Tanier, formerly of Football Outsiders, has his own Substack newsletter now and had this to say about Mac:

Many Patriots fans think Jones was a promising prospect ruined by Bill Belichick’s late-career arrogance. I believe he was an over-drafted C-minus prospect who only flashed brief Brady Junior potential due to the dying embers of Belichick’s brilliance.
Sounds about right to me.
 

nighthob

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
12,716
That does seem about right. I didn't like the pick when they made it. And in retrospect I really really wish that they'd unloaded that pick on a team really desperate for a QB, because the extra draft pick(s) would have really helped the rebuild.
 

E5 Yaz

polka king
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Apr 25, 2002
90,677
Oregon
Jones took center stage and handled himself like a pro. He acknowledged that he and the Patriots agreed to a “mutual parting of ways was the best decision for both of us.”
“I have all the respect in the world for those guys up there,” he said. “My first team, drafted me in the first round, can’t thank them enough -- except for that Smiling Joe clown. He's the one who turned all of New England against me. … For me, it was just about moving on and getting back home, and I can’t be more excited. For them, it’s about moving forward and turning the page. So really that’s kind of what we decided, and I think it’s a great decision.”
https://apnews.com/article/jaguars-patriots-mac-jones-3ab05a558b019e25cd25c1c04fbd5746
 

Cellar-Door

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 1, 2006
34,935
Does this guy do pre-draft predictions and where did he have Mac Jones going?
3. San Francisco 49ers: Mac Jones, QB, Alabama

Kyle Shanahan has the chance to do something unique with this pick. He could select Trey Lance or Justin Fields and groom them while Jimmy Garoppolo soaks up early-season starts. Shanahan could then unleash Lance or Fields in what we are required by internet law to call “his extremely QB-friendly scheme” and confirm he is a bona fide offensive genius once and for all.



Alas, the 49ers appear bent on drafting Mac Jones, who is far less talented than Lance or Fields but more “NFL ready,” which is code for “pocket passer propped up by a great program,” — which is often code for “tall white guy.” It’s almost certainly the wrong, but safe, move that Shanahan will make quasi-work by turning Jones into the arithmetic average of Kirk Cousins and Matt Ryan.
https://www.profootballnetwork.com/nfl-mock-draft-2021-mike-tanier-final/
 

rodderick

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 24, 2009
12,931
Belo Horizonte - Brazil
3. San Francisco 49ers: Mac Jones, QB, Alabama

Kyle Shanahan has the chance to do something unique with this pick. He could select Trey Lance or Justin Fields and groom them while Jimmy Garoppolo soaks up early-season starts. Shanahan could then unleash Lance or Fields in what we are required by internet law to call “his extremely QB-friendly scheme” and confirm he is a bona fide offensive genius once and for all.



Alas, the 49ers appear bent on drafting Mac Jones, who is far less talented than Lance or Fields but more “NFL ready,” which is code for “pocket passer propped up by a great program,” — which is often code for “tall white guy.” It’s almost certainly the wrong, but safe, move that Shanahan will make quasi-work by turning Jones into the arithmetic average of Kirk Cousins and Matt Ryan.
https://www.profootballnetwork.com/nfl-mock-draft-2021-mike-tanier-final/
Pretty accurate description in hindsight, but the arithmetic average of Kirk Cousins and Matt Ryan would be about a top 8-10 QB in football and to me that's a guy worth drafting number one overall.
 

Devizier

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 3, 2000
19,604
Somewhere
Yeah, unnecessarily harsh against Cousins and Ryan. Comes off as reactionary, too. Mac Jones turned out like a lot of quarterback prospects do, which is hopefully just a warning and not an indicator of things to come.