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After New England Patriots‘ quarterback Mac Jones finished his rookie season with an impressive 67.6 completion percentage, and he tried to established himself as a consistent passer with a 65.2 completion percentage in his second year in the NFL.
According to ESPN’s Mike Reiss that achievement places Jones in the exclusive company of only two other quarterbacks, the Chargers’ Justin Herbert and the Bengals’ Joe Burrow, who also managed to complete at least 65% of their passes in their first two seasons.
Additionally Herbert and Burrow are the only quarterbacks in the league to accomplish this feat in their first three seasons, highlighting the exceptional talent and potential that these young quarterbacks possess.
Burrow’s rapid rise has already seen him reach the Super Bowl, and Jones will undoubtedly hope to follow suit in the upcoming 2023 season.
However, Jones has faced his fair share of challenges during this offseason. Reports circulated that Patriots head coach Bill Belichick was exploring trade possibilities for Jones, raising questions about his future with the team.
Despite the tumultuous offseason, Jones appears to have regained his footing, and with the appointment of new offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien, the Patriots are looking to provide him with a significant upgrade over his previous offensive coordinator, Matt Patricia.
Patricia, a primarily defensive-minded coach, struggled in his offensive role last year, hampering Jones’ progress.
To maintain his status as the Patriots’ starting quarterback, Jones must deliver consistently strong performances on the field and demonstrate growth in his game. One significant threat to his position is the emergence of promising quarterback Zappe Bailey, who replaced Jones temporarily in a game against the Chicago Bears last season.
The pressure is on Jones to prove himself and solidify his role as the leader of the Patriots’ offense.
Furthermore, the Patriots find themselves in the challenging AFC East division, which comprises strong teams like the Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins and up-and-coming New York Jets. The competition in this division is fierce, and the outcome of the 2023 season will largely depend on how well the Patriots navigate through it.