Alarm bells for Patriots? NFL insider reveals locker room split after Bill Belichick's Mac Jones call

Rumors of Mac Jones reportedly being shopped around this offseason by Bill Belichick have caused one NFL insider to question the Patriots' locker room chemistry. On his eponymous show, Dan Patrick stated that he spoke to a former player on the team and wanted to know about the team's locker room.

More specifically, Patrick wanted to know which quarterback they preferred: Mac Jones or Bailey Zappe.

Patrick said:

"But if you're going to do that to Mac Jones, does it signal all right, then we're in the Lamar Jackson sweepstakes? Or are you going to go Bailey Zappe? I do think that the locker room is split. Somebody who used to play for the Patriots. I asked, could you find out how that feels in the locker room?

"And when he came back to me, probably four days later, he said there's a lot of support for Bailey Zappe, but that doesn't mean they're ready to turn the team over to Bailey Zappe. Bailey Zappe was a great college quarterback and put up a lot of yards there. But you spent the 15th pick in the first round on Mac and you can't whiff on that."

Mac Jones didn't quite have the 2022 season that he had in his rookie season, where he finished second in the Offensive Rookie of the Year voting. However, Bailey Zappe started two games for the New England Patriots last season and played in four.

Zappe notably came in relief of Jones versus the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football in Week 7 last season. In that game, Jones went three of six passing for 13 yards and an interception.

How long does Mac Jones have on his current contract?

The former Alabama Crimson Tide star is in the third year of his four-year rookie contract. He's set to get a base salary of close to $2.1 million while carrying a cap hit of around $4.25 million this upcoming season.