Jaguars' Mac Jones: 'Change of Scenery Definitely Helped' After Patriots Trade

After a rough start to his NFL career with the New England Patriots, Mac Jones is getting a fresh start with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Per The Athletic's Jeff Howe, the quarterback said being in a new city with a new team has helped him regain his confidence as he looks to start over.

"The whole change of scenery definitely helped," Jones said. "I'm just having fun playing football. I'm at my best when I'm keeping it loose, letting it rip and having that gunslinger mindset that I maybe had lost a little bit of. But I got it back here, and you've just got to be consistent with it. It's good days, bad days and everything in between."

Jones, the 15th pick in the 2021 NFL draft, was thrown into the fire, starting immediately for the Patriots. His best season came in his rookie year when he had 3,801 passing yards and 22 touchdowns, but from there he never managed to find his groove.

Last year, Jones had 2,120 passing yards, 10 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 11 games before being benched in November.

Now, after being traded to Jacksonville this offseason, the pressure is off of Jones as he prepares to back up Trevor Lawrence. Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson echoed Jones' sentiment that being in a new place is ultimately a good thing.

"I think the change of scenery for him is good," Pederson said. "Coming back home to Jacksonville is good. He's in a great (QB) room. He's being taught ball here. (Quarterbacks coach) Mike McCoy does a great job of getting guys equal reps. There's something to be said for … (starting over). In this case, I think it's a positive to change venues."

Jones, a Jacksonville native, will look to work on his craft from a bench role this season. At just 25 years old, learning from the sidelines could ultimately pay dividends down the road in his career.