Alabama Football: When will Mac Jones start for the Patriots?

Mac Jones waited with Alabama football. Will the same happen in New England?

When Mac Jones joined Alabama football, he knew that he would have to wait his turn. Jalen Hurts was entrenched as the starter, and Tua Tagovailoa was in his recruiting class. Sticking with the Tide proved to be worth it, as it only took one full season as Alabama’s starting quarterback to become a first-round pick.

The Patriots took Jones in the middle of the first round, and it is easy to see why. Cam Newton started last year, and he struggled. The Patriots have no other option besides Newton, and he will need to show massive improvement to retain the job.

The Patriots also paid a lot in short-term deals this free agency. They need to win sooner rather than later. If Jones is their best hope of winning now, they won’t worry about throwing him out there as a rookie.

This raises the question of when he will actually become New England’s starting quarterback. He has experience waiting with Alabama football, but he won’t wait that long for the Patriots. He has a great chance of taking over the starting job in his rookie season.

We’ll have to wait and see how the preseason goes, but don’t be shocked if the Patriots start Jones halfway through the year. Newton has a history of injuries, and Jones could easily become the best option.

We’ll also have to see when New England’s bye week is. The Patriots will have to change their offensive game plan with Jones, so having two weeks to prepare would be useful. They will rely more on running backs and Jones’s ability to make the right decision.

Mac Jones may not start at the beginning of the season, but look for him to win the job within the first 8 weeks of play. If they have an early bye, look for the Patriots to pull the trigger and make the switch.