Mac Jones isn't guaranteed the Patriots' starting quarterback job in 2023, if coach Bill Belichick is to be believed. And it turns out the former first-round pick might not be guaranteed a spot at all. Despite reports New England wants to keep building around Jones ahead of the QB's third season, Belichick is still upset with Jones over his decision to seek outside counsel in 2022, per NBC Sports. Not only that, but the coach has spearheaded efforts to trade Jones this offseason, according to ProFootballTalk.

Patriots owner Robert Kraft has been publicly supportive of Jones, suggesting the team's 2022 staffing failed the former Alabama standout. But that hasn't stopped Belichick from shopping the QB to multiple teams, Mike Florio reported Tuesday. At the NFL's annual owners meetings, Belichick was careful not to commit to Jones as his 2023 starter, leaving the door open for second-year signal-caller Bailey Zappe to take over under center.

Even at 24, as a former top-15 pick and Pro Bowl selection, Jones probably wouldn't fetch a premium return via trade. He was solid but unspectacular as a rookie, then regressed in an injury-riddled 2022 campaign, in which he threw 14 touchdowns to 11 interceptions during a 6-8 stretch as the starter. But plenty of teams are still in the market for QB help, and not all of them may get the prospects they covet in April's 2023 NFL Draft.

With that in mind, here are five potential suitors for Jones, in the event the Patriots plan their own QB upgrade:

5. Broncos

They're tied to Russell Wilson through 2023 (and would have to eat lots of money to dump him in 2024), but new coach Sean Payton has already hinted that new No. 2 Jarrett Stidham is a candidate for future starting reps.