Jaguars QB Admits Being ‘Caught Off Guard’ By Mac Jones-Patriots Trade

The Jaguars' trade with the Patriots for quarterback Mac Jones did nothing to impact Trevor Lawrence's standing in Jacksonville.

Lawrence, the first overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, is the franchise's clear QB1, especially on the heels of signing a five-year, $275 million contract extension.

The same can't be said for C.J. Beathard.

Beathard, a third-round pick in 2017, spent the last three seasons as Jacksonville's backup quarterback after three years with the San Francisco 49ers. He even started a game for the Jaguars last season when Lawrence was injured and seemingly had the inside track on the backup job again in 2024 -- until Jones showed up.

"I was caught off guard by it, but at the end of the day in this business, you can't really be caught off guard by anything," Beathard recently told Shaaz Peerani of First Coast News. "I've been in it for eight years and I've seen some crazy stuff go on. I just learned to stay in my lane and do what I can do. Don't focus on the outside stuff."

The Jaguars bought low on Jones, whose tenure in New England spiraled over the last two seasons. He showed promise his rookie year after being selected 15th overall in 2021 -- 14 spots behind Lawrence -- but it's been a rocky road ever since. Is Jones that bad? Or was he just in a bad situation with the Patriots?

Whatever the case, Jacksonville opted to add some competition to its quarterback room, even though Lawrence remains the unquestioned starter. Beathard now needs to prove himself worthy of being the next man up should something happen to Lawrence.

Jones started 42 games with the Patriots, totaling 8,918 passing yards, 46 passing touchdowns and 36 interceptions. New England since selected quarterback Drake Maye with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, although veteran Jacoby Brissett figures to open the regular season as the Patriots' starter.