Mac Jones' personal quarterback coach saw things trending downward following his rookie season. And he thought the quarterback should try and get out. 

In a podcast with NBC Sports' Tom Curran’s podcast, Joe Dickinson, who has been working with Jones for 14 years, spoke candidly about what he told the young quarterback after his impressive first year. 

“After the first season, I saw that it was really good for Mac and I saw that his coach was leaving: I advised Mac and his agent to go and ask for a trade,” Dickinson said. “I just said, ‘Hey, I just think it would be better for you and the Patriots if they trade you.’"

"I felt like, ‘Hey, if you really want this guy to work, you’re going to get some guys around him. You’re going to put the right guys around him, helping him. And if you don’t, this is really easy, just trade him, get another guy, because that’s allowed and that’s within the rules.'”

However, Jones had a different mindset. And he decided to stick with that.  

“Mac, for whatever reason, he grew up watching Tom Brady,” Dickinson said. “And for whatever reason, he’s always been a New England Patriots fan and he wanted to be like Brady, (who) a lot of guys want to be like, but there’s one of those goes. The good Lord made one Tom Brady.

“I think Mac wanted to be that guy. And still does.”

Jones had a strong rookie season under the direction of Josh McDaniels, finishing with 3,801 passing yards and 22 passing touchdowns along with 129 rushing yards. He was named to the Pro Bowl in his first season, also being named to the Pro Football Writers Association's All-Rookie team. 

However, in his second year he took a serious decline after McDaniels left to take the head coaching job with the Las Vegas Raiders and it was Matt Patricia and Joe Judge who took over the offense. He finished his second season with 2,997 passing yards and 14 passing touchdowns along with 102 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown.

“I think he didn’t feel like he had anybody on the coaching staff that could help him to get him out of jams,” Dickinson said about Jones’ mindset during the 2022 season. “I mean, there were guys learning on the job there. They’re great coaches, don’t get me wrong. Come on, man. Those guys are documented, good coaches. But they were both in the first year. They were coaching, being an offensive coordinator and being a quarterback coach.

And by his third season, things hit their lowest. Along with his poor performance during the 2023 season, there were also reports that Bill Belichick and Jones' communication was 'nonexistent' by the end of the year. 

“Well, there’s three sides to every story, right? (Bill’s) side, Mac’s side, and the truth,” Dickinson said. “The truth is, it probably contributed a little bit on everybody. Look, Bill has earned his stripes. He’s earned the right to say or do whatever you wanted to do knowing that it may or may not cost him his job.”

“But, you know, he’s an older guy. He’s (71) years old. I’m 67. I understand we don’t have patience a lot with younger guys. All those guys think they know it all. It’s a different world than we live in… those guys have to earn their stripes, and sometimes, I think we get too caught up into that, knowing that to make this work, we have to bend a little bit as a coach too.”

And if Robert Kraft decided to keep Belichick in New England, one thing was for certain regarding Jones' future: the quarterback would not be back to start the 2024 season. However, since Jerod Mayo is leading the way now, nothing is certain. 

But a trade could still potentially be in Jones' future. 

Patriots reportedly don’t plan to pick up Mac Jones’ fifth-year option

There is an expiration date.