Day 1 of the 2021 NFL Draft is officially in the books. I would say it was one of the more exciting first rounds in the last few drafts. As a Patriots fan, it was especially exciting. The New England Patriots ended the night with what appears to be the quarterback of the future on their team.
His name is Michael McCorkle Jones.
I will be the first to admit, I did not love this pick when it was called. There are some less than flattering videos of me that show my reaction.
There are plenty more than that one out there. Shoutout my friends for taking those videos. I’m sure those won’t come back to haunt me one day.
Theatrics aside, I truthfully didn’t like the pick at first. In my opinion, Mac Jones has the lowest ceiling of the first round quarterbacks. He is also the most unathletic QB in this draft. He had it made for him at Alabama, never really struggled. It’s hard to struggle when you have that 2020-21 Bama team behind you.
There were other great defensive guys there at 15. Zaven Collins and Jamin Davis primarily would have been great additions.
However once I had a few minutes to collect myself, I began to think about it. The more I thought, the more I came to realize something. That WAS the best possible pick at that spot. That was what New England wanted all along.
Mac Jones was being talked about as maybe going No.3 overall. For weeks all I heard was how Mac Jones was going to be a Top 10 pick. The Patriots got him at pick 15.
In the hours leading up to the draft, the Patriots were being rumored to move up. They stayed put, and still got one of the top five QBs in the draft. That is a win undoubtedly.
This was the move all along. It is why they spent so much money in the offseason. There really weren’t any immediate needs to address.
They addressed all their biggest needs in Free Agency. Anything else at this point is for depth or for the future. They shored up all their holes in FA so that they could make this pick. So they could take a flier on a signal caller early in the draft.
It was the only position on the field next to maybe WR they weren’t 100% sold on. Cam Newton is fine for now, but he isn’t the answer. Especially not long-term.
Mac Jones is risky, but when that guy falls into your lap at 15, you have to take him. No doubt about it.
If they had traded up to get Jones, I would have hated the pick. At 15, he’s a great value grab for New England. There is a lot to like about Mac Jones.
He has a solid arm, incredible eye speed when it comes to making his reads. He comes from a winning culture. Jones knows how to play on the largest stage against the toughest competition and win.
I think the Tom Brady comparisons don’t make much sense. They are unathletic pocket passers, that’s really the most they have in common.
I think at best, Mac Jones is Jimmy Garoppolo. This is also why I think this makes so much sense. The Pats have been interested in a Garoppolo reunion for months. That didn’t happen, so what’s the next best thing?
Grabbing a younger version of Jimmy G without all the injury history. Also without the massive contract. Garoppolo isn’t a superstar, but he can win you games and take you places. I think that could be Mac Jones.
He is coming onto a Pats team reloaded with talent. They have one of the best offensive lines in the NFL. Arguably the the most talented overall TE room in the league. A great run game, decent receivers.
Best of all, you get Belichick and McDaniels to work with. Jones going from Saban to Belichick is pretty incredible for him.
At the end of the day, I don’t LOVE the pick. Part of me wishes we bit the bullet and traded up for Justin Fields.
The Patriots took as safe a risk as you could ask for. The gave up no additional assets, and still got one of the top five guys. Mac Jones doesn’t make me rest easy, but at least we MIGHT have the guy.
Ending this article, I’m going to put my negative reactions in the past, and be optimistic for the future. Here’s to hoping Mac Jones works out in New England.
I think the Pats are going to surprise some people next year. It’s not unfeasible Mac Jones contributes to that in his first year either. No offense to Cam Newton personally but, he looked very washed up last year. I’m just glad they held onto Stephon Gilmore, for a second I thought they were going to trade him to get into the top ten which I think would’ve been a mistake.