AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

The Patriots are trading quarterback Mac Jones to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a sixth round pick in next month’s draft.

The Patriots drafted Jones with the 15th overall pick in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft. At the time, I said that I liked the pick but Jones success hinged on the Patriots surrounding him with a talented supporting cast. They did not and Jones failed ultimately.

It was not just the lack of talent that prohibited Jones from succeeding, it was also bad coaching, specifically in 2022. Jones was a rookie of the year candidate in 2021 under then offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. He threw for 3,801 yards and 22 touchdown passes. He was a pro bowler. Unfortunately for Jones, he was never able to replicate that success again. The 2022 season broke him and Bill O’Brien couldn’t fix him last season.

Some of the blame falls on Jones. He was immature, showed a lack of mental toughness at times and was physically limited. A lot of his failures however fall st the feet of former coach Bill Belichick. Belichick failed to surround Jones with the right talent and that is what ultimately ruined him.

At Alabama, Jones played for Nick Saban, Belichick’s best friend. He was used to being coached hard. He was also used to playing with high end talent. Not only did the system need to be right, but the skill around him needed to be elite. Jones struggled to fit the Patriots system and the skill he played with was far from elite. 

In the end, the Patriots set up Jones to fail and he was not good enough to overcome the lack of coaching or playmakers around him. Belichick benching him after the loss to the Colts in Germany was the end of his tenure in New England. 

Jones is going back home to Jacksonville where he will get a fresh start but the reality is, his career as a starter in the NFL is more than likely over. 

He got his shot but unfortunately for Jones, he did not make the most of it. Part of it is his fault but ultimately, the Patriots failed him.