The New England Patriots, once synonymous with NFL greatness, are now witnessing a significant shift in Foxborough. Following Tom Brady’s departure and a string of lackluster seasons, the architect of their former dynasty, Bill Belichick, departed after a disastrous 4-13 season.
However, there is hope for a turnaround. With the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and ample cap space, the Patriots are well-positioned for change. They wisely secured the services of star offensive lineman Michael Onwenu, arguably their best move this offseason. Yet, the trade involving Mac Jones and its return raised eyebrows, leaving observers puzzled.
Best move: Re-signing Michael Onwenu
The Patriots couldn’t afford to lose their top player on the offensive line, which is why they took steps to prevent such a catastrophic outcome. Michael Onwenu, often overlooked, stands out as one of the NFL’s most underrated offensive linemen. His consistent performance at right tackle has been exemplary over the past few seasons.
The Patriots keep Mike Onwenu in the building 😤
Since 2022:
1,088 pass-blocking snaps
37 QB pressures allowed
4 sacks allowed🧱 pic.twitter.com/JRnW5NEaWs
— PFF NE Patriots (@PFF_Patriots) March 11, 2024
New England recognized the importance of securing Michael Onwenu for the long term, sealing the deal with a lucrative three-year, $57 million extension. However, their offensive line performance has been lackluster, as evidenced by their bottom-ranking pass block win rate and conceding the ninth-highest number of sacks in the league last season.
While retaining Onwenu is a significant step, the Patriots still face challenges on the offensive line, especially with the departure of left tackle Trent Brown to the Cincinnati Bengals on a one-year deal. They are likely to prioritize bolstering their offensive line in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft. Nonetheless, locking in Onwenu provides a solid foundation and is a commendable move by the Patriots.
Worst move: Trading Mac Jones
Both the Patriots and Mac Jones seem to be parting ways at an opportune time. Jones has faced significant challenges in the past couple of seasons following a promising rookie year, while New England is gearing up to potentially draft Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels with the third overall pick in the 2024 Draft. With Jacoby Brissett also returning to Foxborough on a one-year deal, Jones became expendable.
Trading him to the Jacksonville Jaguars made sense for both parties, as the Jaguars sought a quality backup quarterback. However, the return of only a sixth-round pick for Jones raises eyebrows. One possible explanation could be the looming fifth-year option for Jacksonville, which may have influenced the trade value.
Comparatively, other quarterbacks fetched more in trades. For instance, the Seattle Seahawks swapped draft positions with the Washington Commanders and the Philadelphia Eagles with the Pittsburgh Steelers, each acquiring quarterbacks Sam Howell and Kenny Pickett, respectively.
Jones’ performance hasn’t been exceptional in recent years, ranking low among qualified quarterbacks in various metrics. However, the difference in performance between him and other traded quarterbacks like Howell and Pickett is marginal.
Teams may have been hesitant to deal with Jones’ fifth-year option, and the Patriots no longer had a need for him. Nonetheless, the underwhelming return marks the end of a disappointing tenure for a player who once showed promise as the next franchise quarterback for New England, particularly during his rookie season.
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