Every Friday, I will be releasing a Patriots mailbag, so if you have any questions on all things Patriots and the NFL, feel free to ask. You can tweet @sophieewellerr or reply to the weekly mailbag post on the New England Patriot Fan's Facebook page. 

Let's get into your questions in this mailbag.

Kip Wheeler

Saw a suggestion that they trade Zappe now before training camp starts to remove all the "Zappe fever" from that part of the "fan"base. I think that's a good idea. What doyou tink?

My take on keeping or trading Bailey Zappe is simple: keep him. 

Zappe proved himself to be a solid backup quarterback last season, having to replace Mac Jones who went out with an ankle injury. 

In Week 4, Jones was inactive and Brian Hoyer started the game for the Patriots, but was then injured during the first quarter. That allowed Zappe to make his NFL debut. 

While "Zappe fever" was a bit of a problem last season, I see a main cause of that was the issues in the offensive play calling. Now, with Bill O'Brien leading the way for Jones this season, I think the third-year quarterback is about to get back on track and can be the deciding factor for New England.  

And if Jones were to get injured (knock on wood that it doesn't happen), the Patriots have a quarterback that they trust and who has experience to fill in. 

@GlennMulno

Excluding O'Brien – what are the top 3 factors for Mac's success this season?

This is certainly a make-or-break season for Mac Jones, so here are the main factors besides O'Brien. 

1. Offensive Line

Mac Jones needs protection. It's as simple as that. 

The quarterback will only succeed if he has time in the pocket and can locate his receivers. 

2. New Weapons

During the offseason, the Patriots added Juju Smith-Schuster and Mike Gesicki, with Smith-Schuster coming off a Super Bowl victory. 

And they might not be done, with DeAndre Hopkins rumors still circulating. 

All of these players will provide Jones with multiple targets, making the Patriots offense very versatile. 

3. Building his strength

Last season, Bill Belichick was clear that Jones "couldn't throw that far" when asked about why he didn't go for a Hail Mary in the final seconds of the loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. 

Yet, a recent video showed that Jones has made sure he is ready to make that throw if it's needed. Jones has posted many photos of himself working out this offseason, and made a 70-yard touchdown pass while hosting a football skills clinic for kids. 

Who says you’ve gotta wait two weeks to see some Patriots football, huh?!?

One lucky YMCA Metro West camper hauls in a bomb from Mac Jones — inside the Patriots bubble for a NOBULL youth clinic — that goes for a 70-yard touchdown he’ll never forget. pic.twitter.com/EHr1EU6tPL

— Phil Perry (@PhilAPerry) July 12, 2023

@SamBeatty11

What will it take for Mac Jones to prove himself as a top quarterback in the league? 

In his rookie season, Jones led the Patriots to a 10-7 record and a postseason berth, but showed a serious decline last season. 

So for Jones to prove himself, he needs to help the Patriots get one thing: results. 

Robert Kraft has made it clear that he wants to win “Number 7," and while that might not be completely realistic for Jones this year, he has to at least prove that he can lead the Patriots to the postseason once again. 

David Padilla

Do you think Mac Jones will make a big leap this year or will he struggle and possibly get traded?

I have faith in Jones this season and that is because of who is leading the offense this season. 

We saw what he was capable of under the direction of Josh McDaniels, and also saw first-hand what happened when not being led by the right person (Matt Patricia). 

And not only did the Patriots bring in a proper offensive coordinator for this season, but they brought in someone who has experience with the Patriots organization and also with Alabama, which is where Jones played college ball. 

Yet I do think questions will arise if his struggles continue even under the direction of O'Brien, but let's cross that bridge if and/or when it comes. 

Ron Maranian

What's your take on O-Line? Can they be average or better?

The main change the Patriots made on the offensive line is bringing in former Oregon coach Adrian Klemm. 

But despite minimal changes, I do believe the O-Line should be better than is was last season.

Cole Strange (left guard), David Andrews (center) and Mike Onwenu (right guard) are expected to be fairly solid, but it's the tackles that raise a bit of a question. 

Trent Brown is listed as first on the depth chart for right tackle while Riley Reiff is at the top for left tackle. But Calvin Anderson and James Ferentz might make a case for one of those spots. 

So as long as they can figure out the starting spots prior to the start of the season and have a plan of action locked down, things should be looking up. 

Featured Image via Sophie Weller – A to Z Sports