Steve Young: I have a lot of confidence in Mac Jones

Former NFL quarterback Steve Young joined Felger and Mazz on Radio Row on Wednesday to discuss some of the latest news with the New England Patriots. Young gave his thoughts on Patriots quarterback Mac Jones and why he still has confidence that Jones can still perform in the NFL.

Steve Young's thoughts on Mac Jones...

Steve Young: Mac Jones is somebody, for me, has sent me signals. I want to see Mac in a better space. Whether it's there or somewhere else, I want him in a better protected space where he has a better chance to go show who he can be. I have a lot of confidence in Mac, despite the fact that a lot of people in Boston are probably done with Mac. So that's just somebody who sent me some smoke signals. I think Mac, if he can get the proper help and the innovation and the protection, I really believe in Mac, I still do.

Mazz: So when you say signals, can you give us more? What do you mean? What do you see in Mac Jones that makes you say, this guy can do it?

Steve Young: Well, look, I can understand why people are down because it looked bad. But what I'm saying is, the coaching situation, and look when you take a defensive coach and throw him in and have him call plays and it's just it's not right.

Mazz: Embarrassing.

Steve Young: It's not right. And I thought Mac in many ways showed me that season, like everyone in the world knew this was just a crap show, right? Like what? But Mac kind of stood in. It was the next year where things started to really go haywire, and I think it just gets too much and I can understand that. I'm not against that Mac might be in a space now where he can't put it back together. There's something about how he handled that season that was just....I remember we had a Monday night game that year, and I caught him for a second, and I just said, "I'm so sorry. Because as a quarterback that was in Tampa Bay and went 2-14 and like I'd been I've been where you are and I'm so sorry. And I hope that you can get to a space where this changes".

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The New England Patriots are turning toward building their roster for the 2024 season.

As we barrel toward Super Bowl Sunday and the start of the off-season for all 32 teams, it's time to take stock of what the Patriots have at every position. They have plenty of familiar faces under contract, even at quarterback. But at other spots, they're looking at a total reset. These depth charts should clue in to how the Patriots will look to augment their existing roster going forward.

Here's a look at each position group on the offense, as it stands with players under contract with the team for 2024...

Through all the turmoil, the losses, the turnovers, the Patriots are once again left with the same two quarterbacks heading into the 2024 league year: Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe.

Neither young quarterback did nearly enough to consistently play winning football in 2023. Quarterback play was the principal difference between mediocrity and the bottom of the league. Jones and Zappe over 17 games combined for a 73.8 percent passer rating, a mark that would have ranked 31st in the NFL.

For those obvious reasons, it's widely expected that the Patriots go in a new direction at quarterback in 2024. They are armed with the third overall pick and well-positioned to draft a QB. UNC's Drake Maye and LSU's Jayden Daniels are projected as possible picks for the 2-3 slots.

But of course, the Patriots will go into training camp with at least three quarterbacks on the roster. Could Jones and/or Zappe be among them? The pair costs about $3.77 in combined base salaries in 2024. So, if they're happy to stay for the post-Bill Belichick era, they very well might. Otherwise, the Patriots will have to bring in a veteran or two to supplement their high draft pick.

Outside

DeVante Parker
Tyquan Thornton
T.J. Luther

Inside

DeMario Douglas
JuJu Smith-Schuster

It's on the outside that the Patriots could stand to improve and change the most, but they have actual bodies there, unlike other positions (you'll see). DeVante Parker remains under contract through 2025, while Tyquan Thornton is in year three of his rookie deal. Thornton is a "stay the course" option, while cutting Parker pre-June 1 would net a small amount of cap space (via Over The Cap).

MORE: A look at every Patriots receiver ahead of the offseason

In the slot, the Patriots are in much better shape. DeMario Douglas emerged as an outlier of a largely disastrous offense. While he did line up outside on 22.8 percent of his snaps last season, Douglas projects as a slot receiver at the NFL level, but a dynamic one. The hope is that their new quarterback can make the most of Douglas' talents over the middle of the field.

JuJu Smith-Schuster, meanwhile, is under contract for $7 million in guaranteed salary. He's no lock to stay healthy, let alone produce. But they might as well hold onto him past June 1, because he's owed that money, and cutting him would cost them against the cap. Can he at least work his way up to being steady, dependable veteran depth? He'll need to prove he can stay on the field in the first place, or he could be cut loose over the summer.

Believe it or not, the Patriots have ZERO tight ends under contract for 2024. So, there's plenty of work to do there.

Hunter Henry, however, should be considered a candidate to re-sign. Henry had a down season, like most everyone else who played offense for the Patriots in 2023, but he did grab six touchdown catches after a hot streak down the stretch. The Patriots named Henry a team captain in 2023. He resides in Massachusetts and has been active in the community. So, despite the Patriots' troubles in 2023, Henry is likely happy to remain a cornerstone piece for the long-term.

Still, the Patriots have a whole depth chart to rebuild in 2024 and beyond. We'll see if they want to continue the Mike Gesicki experiment and if they address the position in the draft.

Conor McDermott
Calvin Anderson
Vederian Lowe
Andrew Stueber

Trent Brown is on his way out, as he's on the books for a void year and talked openly about switching teams late in the season. So, the Patriots are left with three journeymen and one total question mark, at one of the most important positions in football.

This is a position ripe for a high draft pick, possibly even at No. 3 with Notre Dame's Joe Alt. But the Pats can land a good tackle prospect in the second or third round as well, and they can re-sign Mike Onwenu to keep their starting right tackle in the fold. The tackle room is thin right now, but can thicken up in a hurry.

Cole Strange
Sidy Sow
Atonio Mafi
Michael Jordan

The Pats are pretty set here. Which makes it funny that they signed Michael Jordan to a futures contract as one of their first moves of the off-season. But between Strange, Sow, and Mafi, the Patriots should be able to find a guard combination that works well enough. It's tackle that needs more work.

David Andrews
Jake Andrews

David Andrews' future might be somewhat up in the air, as he's 31 years old and has acknowledged he's near the end of his career. But he's still under contract for 2023, as is fourth-round pick Jake Andrews for his second season. If David decides to walk away, the hope is that the younger Andrews can seamlessly take over for 2024.

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Matt Dolloff is a writer and podcaster for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Check out all of Matt's content.