Mac Jones gets valuable endorsement from Jaguars HC with free agency looming

The Jacksonville Jaguars thrust Mac Jones into action when Trevor Lawrence suffered a serious shoulder injury. While it took him a bit to hit his stride, he's progressively playing better. The Alabama product will have one last chance to showcase his talent to potential suitors when the Jags face the Indianapolis Colts in the finale. Heading into the game, head coach Doug Pederson gave him his endorsement.

Pederson met with the local media ahead of the Colts game and said Jones has been what the team expected and then some.

"He's not Trevor, so can't ask him to be Trevor, which wanted to be Mac Jones, so we'll tailor things to his liking and to his strengths," Pederson told the press corps when asked how Jones has done in a backup role. "But you want him to come in and still run the offense, right? And he's been able to do that, and he's taking care of the football lately, which has been big."

Pederson continued, "I think early, and when he was playing, it was a couple giveaways there. He's done a better job there. And I think just running the offense, just letting the guys around him work, and he's done a nice job there, and that's what you want from your backup, and he's exceeded that and done a good job."

Later in the exchange, the head coach says that Jones should be a legitimate option in free agency for teams who are looking for help at the quarterback position.

"He would probably want that, in his future to take, take over a team again and be the guy. That's what he was drafted to do. So I would assume, I don't want to speak for him, but I would say that's the case. Hopefully, he's given an opportunity, see what happens over the course of the next several months. But he's done some good things. And I think if teams are evaluating the quarterback position, he's definitely one that you would have to consider," Pederson said.

Jones, the 15th overall pick in 2021, spent his first three seasons with the New England Patriots. He made the Pro Bowl and helped his team make the playoffs as a rookie. However, the Jacksonville native failed to build off of his early success and was benched several times the following two years.

After 2023, the Pats had seen enough and traded him to the Jaguars last offseason in exchange for a sixth-round pick. At the time, the move made sense for Jacksonville because they needed insurance in case Lawrence missed time, and Jones had shown promise.

Lawrence did end up missing time, and Jones has appeared in nine games with six starts and completed 65.7 percent of his throws for 1,447 yards with seven touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Jones has looked much better the past three games, going 71-of-107 for 715 yards with five touchdowns and two interceptions. He'll have one last chance to raise his stock when the Jags face the Colts in Week 18.

The Jaguars and Mac Jones will benefit from a strong showing vs. the Colts

Mac Jones is slated to become a free agent, so he'll want to put together a strong showing for potential suitors. Heck, the Jacksonville Jaguars should consider re-signing him to back Trevor Lawrence up if the market for his services doesn't materialize.

The Jags are 4-12 ahead of the game but 3-2 in the division. Beating the Colts in the finale would ensure they finish 4-2, so they may be incentivized to beat their AFC South foes in the finale. On the other hand, head coach Doug Pederson would also benefit from a win, as he would have a better case to keep his job beyond 2024. But even if he gets the boot, he can at least leave on a high note.

Ultimately, teams don't go into a game looking to lose, and the Jaguars will most definitely benefit from finishing the season strong.

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