{"id":1554661,"date":"2023-03-21T19:40:42","date_gmt":"2023-03-21T23:40:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/?p=1554661"},"modified":"2023-03-21T19:40:43","modified_gmt":"2023-03-21T23:40:43","slug":"lamar-jackson-rumors-potential-patriots-trade-makes-bill-belichick-franchise-altering-decision-look-even-worse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/news\/lamar-jackson-rumors-potential-patriots-trade-makes-bill-belichick-franchise-altering-decision-look-even-worse\/","title":{"rendered":"Lamar Jackson Rumors: Potential Patriots Trade Makes Bill Belichick's Franchise-Altering Decision Look Even Worse"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Despite using the 15th overall pick on a quarterback two years ago, Bill Belichick<\/a> may still need more time to find a true heir to the now-retired Tom Brady. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With Mac Jones coming off a disappointing season that featured plenty of frustration and too few touchdown passes, the New England Patriots<\/a> could go in a different direction at the most critical position in sports if he doesn\u2019t rebound in a big way under new offensive coordinator Bill O\u2019Brien.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, moving on from Jones before<\/em> the 2023 NFL Draft<\/a> can\u2019t be completely ruled out, especially with Lamar Jackson<\/a> on the market. Yet even though pursuing the superstar signal-caller would undoubtedly put the Patriots in a better position to win, it would also give Belichick\u2019s critics even more ammo to use against him.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After all, a single decision he made five years ago forever changed the course of history for two franchises, and the fact New England is even being mentioned as a potential landing spot for Jackson should only make Robert Kraft and Patriots fans even more frustrated about the state of their beloved team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bill Belichick foolishly passed on the chance to build around a generational talent<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots shakes hands with quarterback Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens after Baltimore's 37-26 win at Gillette Stadium on September 25, 2022 | Maddie Meyer\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Oh, what could have been. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Armed with the penultimate pick of the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft, the Patriots had a golden opportunity to set themselves up for sustained success in the post-TB12 era. Yet instead of taking Lamar Jackson and letting him learn from the GOAT, Belichick passed on the chance to take the team\u2019s offense in a new, exciting direction. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rather than securing a future league MVP at a bargain rate, New England selected a running back who failed to stay healthy and live up to his first-round billing. To make matters worse, Belichick chose Sony Michel over Georgia\u2019s other <\/em>big-name running back: Nick Chubb. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Luckily for the Ravens, Belichick\u2019s foolish decision to let Jackson\u2019s draft-day slide continue allowed them to land a dual-threat quarterback who wasted little time showcasing his rare athleticism and powerful throwing arm.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, the Patriots did win another Super Bowl<\/a> with Brady, but the marriage between the second-winningest coach of all time and the greatest quarterback of all time ended after a 2019 season that culminated in a lopsided loss to the Tennessee Titans in the playoffs. Since then, Belichick has been a .500 coach who has yet to prove he can win consistently without Brady.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, the Ravens have gone 43-23 since Jackson became their full-time starter in 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lamar Jackson trade rumors should give Patriots fans mixed feelings<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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ESPN mentioned two possible wild cards for #Ravens<\/a> Lamar Jackson.

The #Vikings<\/a> and #Patriots<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/yDUXYGatbB<\/a><\/p>— NFL Rumors (@nflrums) March 20, 2023<\/a><\/blockquote>