Mac Jones

Mac Jones became the first quarterback taken by the New England Patriots in the first round of the draft since 1993, but the No. 15 overall pick isn't necessarily expecting any changes to the team's offense any time soon.

Jones said he viewed his role on the team as one that would support quarterback Cam Newton rather than take the offense from him.

Mac Jones on Cam Newton: "It's his show. I'm just there to support him and help out the team any way I can."

— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) April 30, 2021

Newton, who led the Patriots to their worst season since 2000 in the wake of Tom Brady's departure to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, re-signed with the team on a one-year deal this offseason. New England has made significant upgrades this offseason, with Nelson Agholor, Kendrick Bourne, Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry set to bolster an offense that will be without the recently retired Julian Edelman. 

Whether Jones immediately inherits the group or not may not matter to him, as he told reporters that he "wanted to go to the Patriots all along."

The New England Patriots had a down year in 2020, but Mac Jones isn't letting that skew his perception of his new team.

"I can't wait to play for the greatest franchise in NFL history," Jones said after the team drafted him with the No. 15 overall pick on Thursday. 

Jones is the first quarterback to be drafted by New England in the first round since Drew Bledsoe in 1993. 

Born in 1998, Jones has hardly known an NFL that wasn't run by the Patriots. All six of the team's Super Bowl championships have come during his life. 

But after the team missed the postseason for the first time since 2008 and posted its worst record since 2000 in the wake of legendary quarterback Tom Brady's departure to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Jones will have his work cut out for him in an effort to return New England to its former glory. 

The team made some significant additions in the offseason, bulking up the offense that seemed set to run again under Cam Newton, who the team signed to a one-year deal this offseason. Nelson Agholor, Kendrick Bourne, Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry all arrived to bulk up an offense that ranked sixth-worst in the league with just 327.3 yards per game. 

With those weapons, it should be easy for Jones to carry the skill that helped him lead Alabama to a national title over into the NFL. As a junior in 2020, he threw for 4,500 yards and 41 touchdowns with just four interceptions, a year after taking over as a starter following Tua Tagovailoa's injury. 

Whether or not Jones immediately takes over, it seems the franchise's future is set. 

The biggest story of the draft has now come to a close, with the New England Patriots officially selecting Mac Jones No. 15 overall during the first round of Thursday's NFL draft.

For weeks, the debate has been the order in which Jones, Justin Fields and Trey Lance would be selected. And now we know.

What we don't know, of course, is what sort of fantasy impact—if any—Jones will have during his rookie season. But we can take an educated guess. 

You might be surprised to learn that, of all the rookie quarterbacks, Jones might just be the best bet to post solid numbers during his first season. Well, if he wins the starting job over Cam Newton, that is. 

Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson are both risky picks, joining two pretty rough rosters amidst a rebuild. Lance is a project. Fields has a lot of upside, given his athleticism and ability to rush the ball, but like Lance, there's the risk he won't really see the field right away. 

And yes, Jones offers that same risk. But he's a pretty interesting sleeper option as your QB2 because outside of Lawrence, he's probably the most pro-ready option of the bunch. 

Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com only listed Jones as the No. 32 overall player in this draft class on his last big board, saying he showed "incredible accuracy, efficiency and poise" during his time at Alabama and "should become a starting NFL quarterback, but his lack of twitch and athleticism will limit the playbook with the way the game is trending."

OK, not the most sparkling endorsement of his potential fantasy upside. 

.@danorlovsky7 has high hopes for Trey Lance 👀

"I think you'd win a lot of games WITH Mac Jones. With the right coaching, fixing the flaws, and taking the talent to another level, Trey Lance is the quarterback that you win games BECAUSE of." pic.twitter.com/quVsFl0t5r

— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) April 19, 2021

Well, what about this? Albert Breer of SI.com believes Jones has the ability to "play fast and play on schedule" and adds that "you’ll be happy with Jones in Year 1 or Year 2. In Year 5? I'm not as sure."

OK, OK, so he should hit the ground running, but his upside is limited. That's fair.

And Peter King of Pro Football Talk wrote that one coach told him Jones "has elite NFL traits. He's a natural thrower, is technically very sound, very accurate and throws a catchable ball. His base and mechanics are excellent."

There we go. That's what fantasy players want to hear. 

Here's the truth: Rookie quarterbacks rarely produce enough to be safe investments right away. In redraft leagues, they are hard to rely on. In dynasty leagues, Jones is probably the fifth quarterback you should be taking. The other guys just have more natural ability and, by proxy, upside. 

But this season, right away? Jones is a worthy gamble if he wins the starting gig, especially if you take a very reliable, high-end option at the position in the earlier rounds. Newton wasn't great last year, so expect an open competition.

Granted, he's not exactly coming into a New England roster loaded with top-end talent out wide. And again, he might not win the job. But if he does, well, don't be shocked if Jones is a nice QB2 to have on your roster.

The New England Patriots are moving forward at quarterback with Mac Jones after selecting the Alabama star with the No. 15 pick of the 2021 NFL draft. 

The selection could give the team an NFL-ready passer, which is especially valuable if it can compete during the window of his rookie contract.

Jones will earn a projected $15,586,353 in his new four-year deal, per Spotrac, including a $8.7 million signing bonus. The quarterback will have a $2.8 million cap hit in 2021.

It's a major difference from the $34.1 million contract that will go to Trey Lance after he was taken No. 3 overall by the San Francisco 49ers. Jones was often linked to the 49ers before the draft, but his slide was significant.

Darren Rovell of Action Network noted the loss in guarantees:

Mac Jones slide from No. 3 to No. 15 cost him about $13 million guaranteed.

— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) April 30, 2021

The Patriots end up with great value, including the fifth-year option that will be available in 2025.

Jones enters the NFL after an incredible 2020 season at the college level, leading the Crimson Tide to a 13-0 record and a national championship. The quarterback finished third in voting for the Heisman Trophy after totaling 4,500 passing yards, 41 passing touchdowns and just four interceptions.

His 203.1 quarterback rating was the best in the college football last season.

Beyond the numbers, Jones proved his accuracy as a passer and has impressed with his mental approach to the game.

Per Aaron Suttles of The Athletic, Alabama coach Nick Saban said of the 22-year-old:

"He's a good leader. The guy is very committed to being the best player that he can be. He's smart. He's going to know the offense inside-out. He makes quick decisions. He's got great judgment. He's very accurate with the ball. I think the combination of those things is going to make him a fine player at the next level."

It could lead to a quick transition to the NFL for Jones and potentially a long career with the Patriots.

Even if Cam Newton returns as QB1 to start the 2021 season, the team now has a long-term option at the position for the first time since losing Tom Brady.

The New England Patriots added one of the most notable players in all of college football to their quarterback room. 

New England selected Alabama's Mac Jones with the No. 15 overall pick of the 2021 NFL draft on Thursday.

Belichick drafts his QB 🤯

The Patriots select Bama QB Mac Jones with the No. 15 pick in the #NFLDraft @brgridiron pic.twitter.com/CuSpleLP7f

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 30, 2021

Here's how the national championship-winning quarterback fits into his new team's depth chart:

QB: Cam Newton, Mac Jones*, Jarrett Stidham

RB: Damien Harris, Sony Michel, James White

WR 1: Nelson Agholor

WR 2: Jakobi Meyers

WR 3: Kendrick Bourne, N'Keal Harry, Gunner Olszewski

TE: Jonnu Smith, Hunter Henry

LT: Isaiah Wynn, Justin Herron

LG: Mike Onwenu

C: David Andrews, Ted Karras

RG: Shaquille Mason, Najee Toran

RT: Trent Brown, Yodny Cajuste

Depth chart info provided by ESPN and Over the Cap.

   

By Alabama standards, Jones was a relatively unheralded recruit. He arrived as a 3-star prospect in the class of 2017, per 247Sports' composite rankings, and spent the beginning of his career backing up Tua Tagovailoa and Jalen Hurts.

However, he filled in for the injured Tagovailoa during the 2019 campaign and completed 68.8 percent of his passes for 1,503 yards, 14 touchdowns and three interceptions. He looked ready to become the full-time starter in 2020 when he finished that 2019 season by throwing for three touchdowns in a bowl win over Michigan.

He certainly was ready.

The 22-year-old finished third in Heisman Trophy voting by completing 77.4 percent of his passes for 4,500 yards, 41 touchdowns and four interceptions. His No. 1 wide receiver, DeVonta Smith, won the award.

The Crimson Tide won the College Football Playoff National Championship behind the dynamic playmakers, cementing Jones as a school legend regardless of how his NFL career unfolds.

Heisman winner Smith seemed to think it will be a successful career when he said he would pick Jones over Tagovailoa.

If that is ultimately the case, the Patriots have a quarterback of the future on their hands following this pick. 

They may need one too considering Cam Newton is under contract for just this coming season. Jones could eventually step in as his successor in New England if he lives up to expectations.

HEIGHT: 6'2 ⅝"

WEIGHT: 217

POSITIVES

— Shows a good understanding of the intent on a range of concepts. Consistently attempts to get the ball out within the framework of the play, whether it be right as his backfoot hits the top of his drop or after a single hitch. Rarely caught holding onto the ball for too long.

— Polished footwork and mechanics that have maximized his skill set.

— Excellent accuracy both in the pocket and out of structure. 

— Adequate arm strength at all three levels, able to attack deep—and all levels—by throwing on time and accurately as opposed to overwhelming arm talent. 

— Does a good job of delivering passes however needed. Quick delivery and is able to change arm angles. Will throw short RPOs like he's throwing darts.

— Not an overwhelming athlete but fluid enough to consistently throw while on the move with flashes of startling accuracy.

        

NEGATIVES

— Has a tendency to "fade away" on his throws, drifting backward at the end of his throwing motion that could lead him to not getting his full throwing power or having balls batted away.

— Can put the ball in harm's way trying to do a little too much. Will "wish" throws open that he determined pre-snap as opposed to progressing.

— Essentially maxed out mechanically. Not much more room for upside. 

— Played with an all-star team of talent around him and an aggressive scheme featuring RPOs and shot plays. 

— Adequate but limited athlete. Does enough at the college level but won't be able to get away with as much when trying to create a throw at the NFL level.

   

2020 STATISTICS

13 G, 311-of-402 (77.4%), 4,500 YDS, 41 TD, 4 INT

   

NOTES

— 2020 Consensus All-American

— 2020 First-Team All-SEC

— 2020 Davey O'Brien Award winner

       

OVERALL

Mac Jones wins with a consistent ability to put throws on time and with excellent accuracy, overcoming any arm strength and athletic deficiencies with the ability to process players quickly and change arm angles depending on the situation. The downside of Jones' polish and just adequate athleticism is that there may be a lower ceiling on his growth when he arrives in the NFL. Jones was asked to run a multitude of schemes at Alabama with a heavy emphasis on RPOs and vertical shot plays that got the ball into his talented teammates' hands.

While you can knock Jones for being a benefactor of his situation, you also have to credit him for operating the offense with maximum precision. He did a nice job of getting his teammates lined up and his eyes consistently worked to the correct read before he delivered accurate throws time after time.

Overall, Jones has the mental processing, accuracy, toughness and enough athleticism to be an above-average-to-good starter at the NFL level, and he can be a contributor early. But he will have to continue to process and deliver accurate throws at an extremely high level, as his limitations make it a narrower path to anything more. 

   

GRADE: 7.9/10 (Potential NFL starter, 2nd round)

OVERALL RANK: 34/300

POSITION RANK: QB5

PRO COMPARISON: Chad Pennington

   

Written by B/R NFL Scout Nate Tice

Apparently the San Francisco 49ers kept their choice for the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft close to the vest. 

After the Niners selected North Dakota State's Trey Lance with the pick, the North Dakota State quarterback told NFL Network's Melissa Stark Thursday, "I just found out two minutes ago." 

That tracks, as ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the "49ers did not tell their coaches or scouts their pick. They didn't know the team was selecting Trey Lance until the pick was announced."

San Francisco's pick was where the first real drama of the draft started, as it was widely assumed the Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Jets would select Clemson's Trevor Lawrence and BYU's Zach Wilson, respectively, which they did.

Last month, the 49ers traded the No. 12 selection, first- and third-round picks in 2022 and a 2023 first-rounder to the Miami Dolphins to move up to the No. 3 pick.

Speculation immediately began about whether they would take Lance, Ohio State's Justin Fields or Alabama's Mac Jones with that pick. The team also still has Jimmy Garoppolo under center, so it was easy to wonder if it would trade him.

Along those lines, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported the New England Patriots are not expected to acquire their former quarterback via trade "anytime soon" and would need to undergo "a complex contract negotiation" to trade for Garoppolo.

If the 49ers keep him, he could be something of a veteran mentor for Lance until the North Dakota State product is ready to take over.

There was plenty of drama leading up to the pick, and now there could be more as the 49ers look to sort out the quarterback spot with their new rookie.

After months of nonstop rumors, misdirection ploys and never-ending gossip, the 2021 NFL draft is finally here.

On Thursday night, the first 32 picks of the much-anticipated draft will be settled. Some of the biggest names in college football—including star quarterbacks Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson and Justin Fields—will learn their professional home.

And it all starts with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The opening round begins at 8 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on ABC, ESPN, ESPN Deportes and NFL Network. An online stream will be available from each entity, too.

Bleacher Report will also have a live draft show broadcast on the B/R app, Twitter and YouTube featuring host Adam Lefkoe and analysis from Aqib Talib, Reggie Wayne, Robert Griffin III and Connor Rogers. Coverage begins at 7 p.m. ET.

             

2021 NFL Draft Order

1. Jacksonville Jaguars

2. New York Jets

3. San Francisco 49ers (from Houston via Miami)

4. Atlanta Falcons

5. Cincinnati Bengals

6. Miami Dolphins (from Philadelphia)

7. Detroit Lions

8. Carolina Panthers

9. Denver Broncos

10. Dallas Cowboys

11. New York Giants

12. Philadelphia Eagles (from San Francisco via Miami)

13. Los Angeles Chargers

14. Minnesota Vikings

15. New England Patriots

16. Arizona Cardinals

17. Las Vegas Raiders

18. Miami Dolphins

19. Washington Football Team

20. Chicago Bears

21. Indianapolis Colts

22. Tennessee Titans

23. New York Jets (from Seattle)

24. Pittsburgh Steelers

25. Jacksonville Jaguars (from Los Angeles Rams)

26. Cleveland Browns

27. Baltimore Ravens

28. New Orleans Saints

29. Green Bay Packers

30. Buffalo Bills

31. Baltimore Ravens (from Kansas City)

32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

            

The Fun Starts at No. 4...and Then No. 7

Entering the first round, NFL followers are confident in three things: The Jaguars will grab Lawrence, the Jets will select Wilson, and the 49ers will take either Trey Lance or Mac Jones. After that, it's a whole lot of guessing and gut feelings.

Will the Falcons pick Florida tight end Kyle Pitts, target Matt Ryan's heir at quarterback or consider a trade down? Do the Bengals want Oregon left tackle Penei Sewell or LSU wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase? Are the Dolphins content to select whichever player is left among Pitts, Sewell and Chase?

As long as neither Cincinnati nor Miami trades down, at least one—and potentially two—of the five highest-rated QBs will remain on the board at No. 7.

From there, the draft could get chaotic in a hurry.

While the Lions may entertain taking a quarterback, they're a trade-down candidate. So are the Panthers, Broncos, Cowboys and Giants from Nos. 9 to 12.

Incidentally, the Broncos are also a trade-up possibility—yes, even after acquiring Teddy Bridgewater from the Panthers for a late-round pick on Wednesday. Other QB-needy teams include New England, Washington, Chicago and New Orleans.

In short: If there's a top quarterback to be had, the phones of general managers will be buzzing all over the country.

Within a few hours, the drama of the 2021 NFL draft should be evident. And the potential for more trades will provide hours of excitement on the most optimistic night of the offseason.

The whispers around what the San Francisco 49ers will do with the No. 3 pick in the 2021 NFL draft have led betting sites to think it's a two-man race between quarterbacks Mac Jones and Trey Lance.

Per DraftKings Sportsbook, Lance (-150; bet $100 to win $67) has emerged as the favorite over Jones (+125) to be selected by the 49ers. Justin Fields is a distant third option at +800.

Predraft reports suggested San Francisco was debating Jones vs. Lance.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Wednesday on Get Up! that the 49ers liked Jones when they traded up with the Miami Dolphins for the No. 3 pick, but the gap with Lance and Fields has "narrowed considerably" as they have done more homework.

Per Schefter, the 49ers hadn't decided who they were drafting as recently as last weekend but have now made their choice.

Jones is coming off a record-setting season at Alabama in 2020. He set an FBS record with a 77.4 completion percentage and a Crimson Tide record with 4,500 passing yards to help the team win the national title.

Lance only played one exhibition game in 2020 with North Dakota State's season postponed until the spring because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2019, he threw for 2,786 yards, ran for 1,100 yards and accounted for 42 touchdowns with zero interceptions as the Bison's starter.