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As Profootballtalk.com's Michael David Smith framed it, "The Patriots haven’t only given their starting quarterback job to Mac Jones. They’ve gotten rid of Cam Newton altogether. ..."

Newton has been released, according to Jim McBride of the Boston Globe.

Newton, who missed three days of practice last week because of COVID protocols, was the top quarterback throughout training camp and the Patriots’ three preseason games. Instead, the Patriots will go with Jones, who was drafted in the first round out of Alabama in April.

Jones finished the exhibition season 36 of 52 for 388 yards and a score, but was diplomatic when asked about the starting job after Sunday’s victory over the Giants.

“I’ve gotten a lot of opportunities to play and I can improve on everything I want to improve on. So I think just learning from [Brian] Hoyer, Cam, Jarrett [Stidham], any one I can, and listening to Josh [McDaniels] and his coaching, there’s a lot of work to do but I think I’ve made progress,” Jones said. “But, honestly, the only thing that matters is today.”

Newton was 14 of 21 for 162 yards with a TD and an interception in the Patriots’ three preseason games.

It's a suprising development.

Jones and Newton were viewed as in close competition for the starting quarterback job, but everyone was expecting that if Jones won the job, Newton would be his backup.

Instead, Newton will now hit free agency, and he’ll likely have offers from other teams looking for a veteran quarterback — but he won’t have much time to learn a new offense as he heads to his third NFL team.