Jerod Mayo gives Mac Jones glowing review amid uncertain future

Change has come to New England. The Patriots have a new head coach in Jerod Mayo and the expectation is that the team’s quarterback room also undergoes a makeover. That likely means that former first-round pick Mac Jones and the team are heading for a separation.

Despite that expectation, Mayo still has made sure to praise Jones, in particular for how he’s working to improve.

“Mac Jones was in there working out,” Mayo said to ESPN. “That attitude, that mentality of changing the page, is something that I hold high.”

2023 was Jones’ third in the NFL. For both him and the Patriots, it was a disaster. He only started 11 games during the season before getting benched for Bailey Zappe. During those 11 games, Jones threw for 2,120 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. In four of those games, New England failed to score at least 10 points. It was a massive drop-off after a promising rookie season in 2021.

Even with those struggles, Mayo made sure to tell ESPN that he had not made a decision about the future of the quarterback position in New England, yet.

“Mayo is leaving all possibilities open, saying he is in the evaluation stage at every position, including coaches,” ESPN’s Mike Reiss said. “Those guys,” referring to Jones and backup Bailey Zappe, “have things that they can do and it’s about improving and developing.”

Bailey Zappe struggled as Mac Jones’ replacement and likely isn’t the future besides possibly filling the role of a backup. In his 10 games, six of which he started, Zappe threw for 2,053 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions.

Both quarterbacks are still on their rookie contracts through the 2024 season. Even with that, the expectation is that the Patriots will seek a quarterback in either the NFL Draft, where the team will pick third, or free agency.

Tedy Bruschi on Patriots’ hire Jerod Mayo

Former Patriots linebacker who won three Super Bowls with the team and current NFL analyst, Tedy Bruschi, praised the hire of Jerod Mayo.

“I’m really not surprised at all. The relationship with Mr. Kraft, the grooming, working himself up through the ranks, being almost the defacto defensive coordinator with Brian Belichick. I think you’re getting the best of both worlds… there’s a little of Bill Belichick in him, and then there’s not,” Bruschi said.

“I think that’s what they’re looking for. Someone who knows the foundation, the structure, knows the defensive philosophy and the techniques. In terms of what they’re looking for in the organization, sort of the new age… it’s everyone on the same page, someone that’s willing to work and can work with a lot of people. They got the right guy in Jerod Mayo.”