The New England Patriots are off to a slow start this year sitting at 1-2.
Quarterback, Mac Jones, has struggled to start his second season.
Jones has thrown for 786 yards and two touchdowns with five interceptions.
The Patriots offense has struggled to score points and now Jones is injured with a severe high ankle sprain.
Now with Jones sidelined for at least a few weeks the Patriots will get a look at backup QB Brian Hoyer.
It would not be a surprise to see the offense operate more efficiently with Hoyer.
The 36-year-old QB was a starter for many years in Houston.
There should be almost no drop-off from Jones to Hoyer.
So that brings up the question: should the Patriots move on from Mac Jones?
It may seem like a crazy jump to a conclusion after the good season Jones had last year.
But, many people would agree Jones does not have the ability of a top 10 QB in the NFL.
He has limited mobility and his arm strength is average.
Although he does throw the ball with good accuracy, the lack of weapons in New England makes their passing game a struggle.
This is the weirdest Mac Jones game I can remember. Awesome athleticism, plenty of aggressive throws, generally inaccurate, bad decision-making. Twilight Zone Mac.
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) September 25, 2022
Jones has not been given anywhere near the weapons that other top QBs get.
But, he still lacks any elite traits.
If the Patriots are looking for better, they may be able to find it in the upcoming draft.
This Patriots team does not seem good enough to make the playoffs in 2022.
They play in a division where they are the third team at best.
Plus, the AFC is loaded with teams that have better quarterbacks and rosters than New England.
It seems likely that they will keep Jones at least through his rookie contract, but it should surprise no one if they decide to move on before then.
Finding The Next Brady
Any Patriot fan that is expecting Jones to be the next Tom Brady is making a mistake.
While Jones could be a competent starter, he cannot carry a team as Brady did.
It seems like the ceiling for Jones is what we saw during his rookie year.
Making the playoffs and maybe winning a wild-card game is possible with Jones as long as the team around him is good.
Having Bill Belichick as head coach, give the Patriots an immediate advantage over most teams.
Especially with him leading the New England defense.
The defense was a big part of the wild-card berth last year, but the Jones-led offense did not have the firepower to compete with the Buffalo Bills in the first round.
The #Patriots in the Mac Jones era:
Opponent scores under 25 points: 11-3
Opponent scores more than 25 points: 0-7— Evan Lazar (@ezlazar) September 25, 2022
If New England does decide to move off Jones after this season, they could try their luck in the draft again or sign a big-time free agent.
Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud are the top two options in the draft with Lamar Jackson as the best possible free agent.
It would be a mistake if the Ravens let Jackson walk, but he is a free agent after this season.
Jackson in New England would be the splash move that the Patriots need.
He could help elevate them back into Super Bowl contention and make moving on from Jones rather easy.
NEXT: Mac Jones And The Patriots Are At An Impasse
