The Seattle Seahawks could think about getting an interesting player at quarterback.
As suggested by Brian Hines of SB Nation’s Pats Pulpit, the Seahawks might be a potential trade option for New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones. The Patriots are looking to trade Jones and it seems like his time with the team is ending as they usher in a new era with head coach Jerod Mayo.
Hines believes that the Seahawks could be a good trade option to have Jones as a potential backup. However, he cautions that the Seahawks' limited Day 3 picks could make it difficult to acquire Jones.
“Geno Smith is set to return to Seattle this year, but the 34-year-old has no guaranteed money left on his contract after this season,” Hines notes. “Perhaps general manager John Schneider — who worked with Eliot Wolf in Green Bay — looks to add a younger backup in Jones this offseason. If Seattle is interested, however, they currently only have one pick per round on Day Three to negotiate with.”
Mac Jones' Performance Declines After Rookie Season
Jones had a successful college career at the University of Alabama, winning two national championships — one as a starter in 2020 — leading to the Patriots drafting him in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft.
However, Jones' performance has decreased over the past two seasons. He had a strong start in his rookie season, displaying command and efficiency of the Patriots’ offense while guiding them to the playoffs. He was also named as a Pro Bowl alternate and finished second in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting after throwing 22 touchdowns and 13 interceptions for a 92.5 passer rating and 67.6% completion rate.
Fast forward to the present and he has only won eight games in the last two seasons after winning 10 in his rookie season. Additionally, he was benched during the 2022 season and eventually replaced by Bailey Zappe in 2023.
Playing under his third offensive coordinator in three years in New England, Jones had his worst season yet, throwing 10 touchdowns and 12 interceptions for a 77.0 passer rating. His passer rating ranked second-to-last among all starting quarterbacks in 2023. Furthermore, his interception rate increased from 2.5% in his first two seasons to 3.5%. It was evident that his confidence and play declined in 2023 as he was on a shorter leash regarding his job security.
Uncertainty Surrounds Geno Smith's Future With Seahawks
While the Seahawks have committed to having Geno Smith on the team for the 2024 season, they have not declared him as the starting quarterback for this season and beyond as they enter a new era with Mike Macdonald as the head coach.
When asked about the starter for the 2024 season, Macdonald did not commit to Smith as the starter.
Via Michael Shawn-Dugar from The Athletic:
Macdonald said during an interview with Seattle radio station 93.3 KJR that the organization is always seeking what's best for the team. He expressed excitement for Geno to join, work with the coaches, and contribute to building the team as they envision.
Considering that the Seahawks' backup quarterback Drew Lock is a free agent, they may be interested in finding a new quarterback, which is where Jones could come in.
The potential price to get Jones might be a fifth or sixth-round pick, as per The Boston Herald’s Andrew Callahan.
If the Seahawks don't retain Lock in free agency, spending a fifth or sixth-round pick wouldn't be much to get a former Pro Bowl quarterback with 42 career starts.
