As this season for the New England Patriots continues to spiral into uncertainty, the question of what to do with Mac Jones is one that must be addressed very soon.

The Patriots are on the brink of stumbling to an abysmal 1-7 record, courtesy of probable defeats to the Bills and Dolphins in the coming weeks. At that point, it’s game over. Not even the 2022 Detroit Lions could recover from a start that bad.

But perhaps the Patriots can head into the 2024 like the Lions did this season.

The NFL trade deadline is fast approaching, following New England’s road trip to Miami in two weeks. If the powers-that-be in Foxboro (whether that be Bill Belichick or Robert Kraft putting his foot down) have already made up their minds that Mac isn’t the QB to steer Old Ironsides into the future, why not trade him? The rumor mill whispers a 4th round pick or better could be in the cards for the struggling third-year quarterback. There are general managers around the league who still hold a torch for Jones, believing in his untapped potential as a high-IQ, accurate, pocket passer with the right pieces around him.

Consider the Raiders.

With Sunday’s injury to Jimmy Garoppolo, Mac would be the perfect fill-in. I still have sweet nostalgia of 22 months ago, arguing Jones deserved the title of Offensive Rookie of the Year, playing under Josh McDaniels. If it weren’t for Ja’Marr Chase’s historic rookie season, that would have been a reality.

Jones is operating in an environment destined for failure for any quarterback, much less a pocket passer with limited mobility and arm strength. He’s broken, not in spirit (okay, maybe in spirit), but also in his potential, playing behind arguably the worst offensive line and receiving corps in the league. Unless, by some miracle, the Patriots pull off victories against the Bills and Dolphins, we’re diving headfirst into tanking mode.

So, why not cash in on Jones while he still carries some value? Snag a 3rd or 4th round pick, maybe even bring in someone like Hunter Renfrow from the Raiders, who’s inexplicably wasting away on their bench.

As I’ve suggested, let’s toss Malik Cunningham into the cauldron, see if he’s got the mettle to be our starting QB. Throw him to the wolves and see how he fares. If he plays reasonably well given the circumstances, that’s one less headache to nurse going into next season. If he struggles, that only means a high draft selection. There’s an impressive crop of quarterbacks in the upcoming draft, including the likes of Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, Michael Penix Jr. and Shadeur Sanders. All of those guys offer arm strength, accuracy and mobility that could contribute to this ailing offense right away.

The fact Belichick elevated Cunningham to the No. 2 spot on Sunday’s depth chart speaks volumes. It’s a testament to his trust in Cunningham’s abilities, more so than Bailey Zappe, who sat as the emergency third-string QB on Sunday. It would have taken an injury to both Jones and Cunningham for Zappe to even play.

Despite the recent struggles, Mac Jones remains New England’s best bet to win on Sunday. But, if the priority shifts to rebuilding, then selling assets at the trade deadline becomes not just an option, but a must. And Mac Jones? He’s still a prized asset, coveted by many teams in the league (regardless of what Johnny Foxboro may think at the moment).

In the end, it’s not just about the team; it’s about Mac too. Give the man a chance, a fighting shot somewhere he can truly flourish. Let’s do it for Mac, for the spark of potential that could light up another team, and perhaps reignite the beacon above Patriot Place heading into 2024.