The New England Patriots are preparing to trade quarterback Mac Jones to the Jacksonville Jaguars when the NFL’s 2024 business year begins on Wednesday, according to reports on Sunday.

With the former Alabama All-American headed to his Florida hometown for his fourth NFL season, New England linebacker Mack Wilson posted a message to Jones on his Instagram account.

“Go be great, @macjones_10,” Wilson wrote. “Make ‘em believe. #BamaBoys.”

The message was accompanied by the emojis of prayer hands and a heart.

Wilson not only was Jones’ teammate for two seasons with the Patriots, they also were teammates for two seasons at Alabama.

A former prep standout at Carver-Montgomery, Wilson had played one season for the Crimson Tide when Jones arrived at Alabama in 2017. Wilson departed for the NFL after the 2018 season, while Jones was with the Tide for two more years after that.

While Jones is being traded by the Patriots, New England traded for Wilson. A fifth-round selection in the 2019 NFL Draft, Wilson had played three seasons with the Cleveland Browns when the Patriots obtained him in exchange for defensive end Chase Winovich on March 15, 2022.

At that time, Jones was preparing for his second season as New England’s starting quarterback after joining the Patriots as the 15th selection in the 2021 NFL Draft.

In 2023, New England benched Jones in favor of Bailey Zappe with six games remaining on its regular-season schedule.

Wilson could be joining Jones on his way out of New England. The linebacker is on course to become an unrestricted free agent at 3 p.m. CDT Wednesday.

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