By almost any measure, Year 1 in the NFL was a success for Mac Jones with the New England Patriots.
Jones helped the Patriots return to the postseason following a one-year absence, finished second in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting (tops among quarterbacks) and finished eighth in the league in completion percentage (67.6) -- one spot ahead of Tom Brady.
Getting to the next level could prove challenging for Jones, however, given the current state of the New England offensive coaching staff. He'll be dealing with both a new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach following the departures of Josh McDaniels and Mick Lombardi, respectively, to the Las Vegas Raiders.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Boston sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
Next Pats Podcast: Nick Caserio on difficulties of moving around coaching staff | Listen & Subscribe | Watch on YouTube
But at least one former Patriots assistant from earlier in the Bill Belichick era doesn't see it that way. Charlie Weis, who served as Belichick's offensive coordinator from 2000-04, said that the current coaching turnover in Foxboro is no different from what Jones experienced at Alabama. Brian Daboll was OC under Nick Saban in Jones' freshman season with the Crimson Tide in 2018, while Steve Sarkisian held the post in 2019 and 2020.
"He was off to a very good start and I think there'll be a nice progression from Year 1 to Year 2 regardless of who's calling the plays," Weis told NBC Sports Boston's Phil Perry.
Weis said that Jones, along with now-Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, were his top two passers in last year's draft, and that nothing Jones did with the Patriots in 2021 had him change his mind.
Weis also doesn't think that the turnover on New England's coaching staff will have a negative effect on Belichick, thus avoiding any trickle-down ramifications for Jones.
New England Patriots
"He's been doing this too long and is too good, I don't think he feels any pressure," Weis said of his former boss. "I think his energy level actually goes up for him because he likes new challenges. And this is a new challenge for him."