New England Patriots pass-rusher Matt Judon doesn’t know if his team has given up on quarterback Mac Jones. But he hasn’t.

“As we all know, when Mac was comfortable and he had a good system, he produced and he put up numbers,” Judon said. “When you said we scored 45-7 (in a Nov. 14, 2021, victory over the Cleveland Browns), Mac Jones led that team, and so we know he can do it. We know he can do it. He has to find his confidence, his stride and get a rhythm under him. It’s going to be difficult. It’s his fourth OC in four years.”

As a rookie in 2021, Jones started every game for the Patriots as New England went to the playoffs and he played in the Pro Bowl. After offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels left to become the Las Vegas Raiders head coach, Jones had a less productive season in 2022, compounded by an ankle injury that caused him to miss three games and most of another contest.

In 2023, the wheels came off for Jones and the Patriots. New England plummeted to a 4-13 record. Jones got benched and didn’t play in the final six games of the season as Bailey Zappe ran the offense.

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Judon said he didn’t have an inkling on the Patriots’ plans for Jones in 2024. The former Alabama All-American has a season remaining on his rookie contract, and New England holds the option on a fifth season, although the Patriots have to decide by May 2 if they want to extend Jones’ deal an extra year.

“I think they’re just keeping that between the front office, the coaches and staff,” Judon said.

After 24 seasons under Bill Belichick, New England will have a new head coach in 2024, with defensive assistant Jerod Mayo elevated to the top spot. Mayo hired Brad Van Pelt as the Patriots’ offensive coordinator.

When asked last month if Jones would have an opportunity to regain the starting position, Van Pelt said: “Right now, everything is on the table.”

New England’s other options at quarterback include free agency and the draft.

The Patriots’ salary-cap situation this offseason is the second-best in the NFL, giving them money to spend in free agency with Russell Wilson and Kirk Cousins among the quarterbacks who will become available next week.

New England also holds the No. 3 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft on April 23, when North Carolina’s Drake Maye or LSU’s Jayden Daniels likely will be available as quarterback choices.

But when asked if Jones was “broken,” Judon referenced another quarterback who could be a free agent next week – Baker Mayfield.

Mayfield started every game, including two playoff contests, for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and went to the Pro Bowl Games as he threw for 4,044 yards and 28 touchdowns in 2023.

Mayfield was coming off a season in which he started six games for the Carolina Panthers and four for the Los Angeles Rams. The former No. 1 draft pick had won five of his previous 20 starts entering the 2023 season.

“I think once you catch your stride, catch your rhythm,” Judon said. “That’s what they were talking about Baker, and now we’re talking about him as one of the first people, first or second quarterback, off the board in free agency.”

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.