Here is how the two compare for their first three years. Looks like Mac’s heading for the bench so these numbers are basically locked in.
Mac is a former first round pick. You can get him for a few million next year, and if he hits you can pick up the 5th year option. Very little financial risk. He was fantastic his rookie year when in a competent offense. At one point the Pats had the number 1 seed in the AFC. He went to the playoffs his rookie year, and the pro bowl too. He had better stats, including wins.
And he did it in one of the worst offenses ever, both in talent and coaching. But somehow he’s too broken to take a flier on? How is there zero trade value here? Tons of desperate teams.
Sam Darnold was also a former first round pick. He already had his 5th year option picked up, so you were taking on 20+ million for the second year, and if he hits you have to extend him with real money. He did nothing his first three years. Accomplished nothing.
Darnold is clearly the worse QB, by every stat as well as the eye test. And yet when he was traded, everyone said it’s a good risk. They also said it’s proof taking QB in the first is a great gamble, because even if they bust they still maintain their trade value.
So why isn’t there any market for Jones? He’s expected to be cut in the off-season and sign as a backup somewhere if he’s lucky. How did it go so wrong so fast? A few weeks ago he was beating the Bills…
TL;DR: Mac and Darnold are both busts, but on on paper Mac looks way better in both stats and accomplishments. If the Jets got some picks for Darnold, you’d think the Pats can get something for Mac too, no?
Mac honestly looks like a locker room problem, you don’t trade for problems
Apparently you can’t edit posts here? Guys, this is not meant to be defending Mac. I was out on him in the draft and was beyond furious we didn’t get Fields to sit behind Cam and learn (lol). I was only in during that great stretch of his rookie year. I even apologized and everything. But he got blown out in the playoffs and didn’t take a step forward in year two and so I was out again. I’m glad it’s finally acceptable to hate him. I am not a Mac Jones apologist.
One guy is 6’3” 225lbs and showed in college and at the combine he can sling the ball all over the field.
The other guy is named Macorckle.
Because they still saw coaching potential in Darnold.
Mac is a whiny little bitch who throws his toys when things don’t go his way.
It’s all about attitude.
Stop buying what this sub is feeding. He does have trade value. Depending on what Bill is able to cook in the draft we may or may not find out what that value is this coming offseason.
I do think Mac has some value around the league. His confidence was ruined here. After his rookie season we could have gotten a 1st and 2nd or a 1st and a 3rd for him. He showed the potential of being a top 12 QB.
As much as I am over Mac, I will say we never gave him a proper shot after his rookie season. We didn’t get him a legitmate #1, we never really fixed our oLine and the OC has always been changing on him.
Back ups are VERY valuable across the NFL and there arent that many reliable back ups. I think Mac could easily be one of the better back up QBs in the league.
I’m sure the Browns, Giants and Raiders all wouldnt have minded if Mac was their back up QB right now.
I think we could easily get at least a 4th rounder for him. He is still an NFL-caliber QB.
The whole reason why it makes sense to continue starting and running Mac into the ground is to save whatever trade value he has left and hopefully have him showcase any sort of spark that way we can possibly move on.
We got “lucky” with the Brady suspension because it gave us the opportunity to have a mini showcase for Jimmy and garner that 2nd rounder out of SF.
Most of the reason.
I’d also add as bad as our reputation has become offensively, it’s nowhere near as bad as the jets at that time.
The notion that WE could fix a talented player that the Jets ruined, is more powerful than coming from our org.
MAC SCREWED HIMSELF…teams won’t just trade based on his stats, they also take in consideration that the greatest coach in NFL history gave up hope on him. He made 3 coordinators look incompetent and is at the helm of a team that is historically bad.
Jets stink, they always stink but the players rallied around darnold. Patriots stink, they didn’t always stink and the players are not coming to Mac’s defense…why? That’s the real question. They say Bill might have lost the locker room but one thing is for sure…
NO ONE SEEMS TO CARES IF MAC IS A STARTER, BACK UP OR WAIVED.