If any NFL teams get desperate for a new quarterback leading up to the Nov. 5 trade deadline, Jacksonville Jaguars second-stringer Mac Jones should be right on their radar.
After a disappointing 2023 season with the New England Patriots, Mac Jones was traded to the Jaguars in exchange for a sixth-round draft pick. Though you can only read so much into preseason performances, Jones’ play in the exhibition contests must be viewed as a positive.
In three preseason games (against the Kansas City Chiefs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons), the soon-to-be 26-year-old had three touchdowns and zero interceptions. And just by looking at his body language, you can tell the Alabama product feels so much more comfortable and at home in Jacksonville after Bill Belichick derailed his 2022 and 2023 seasons.
So yes, Mac Jones is worth targeting via trade if another team wants to bolster their quarterback room. And heading into Week 1, no team makes better sense as a landing spot than the New York Giants.
Play of the Day: Mac Jones Throws Beautiful Back Shoulder Pass #RollTide pic.twitter.com/IB3gA7Q9ve
— Roll Tide Jerky (@RollTideJerky) September 4, 2024
Rather than draft a quarterback in round one as many expected, the Giants used their first-round pick (No. 6 overall) on LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers. Curiously, GM Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll are giving Daniel Jones one last chance to prove himself.
The Giants should take a chance on Mac Jones and have him ready for the QB1 role if Jones gets off to another sluggish start. With all due respect to Drew Lock and Tommy DeVito, those guys clearly aren’t QB1s.
What Giants Should Offer Jaguars For Mac Jones
The Jaguars don’t have any other quarterbacks on their roster, so the Giants would have to move one of their backups to complete a deal for Jones. Lock and a 2025 seventh-rounder (the Giants have two of them) for Jones is a reasonable offer.
The former Alabama star just might regain his confidence and stardom under an offensive-minded genius like Daboll, with a five-star receiver like Nabers at his side. The Giants may as well see if they can revive Jones’ career before they (likely) move on from Jones in 2025.
