New England Patriots 2019 NFL Draft: A closer look at Duke’s Daniel Jones

The big question coming up for the New England Patriots in the 2019 NFL Draft is will they draft a successor to Tom Brady?  Here’s a closer look at one of those possibilities.

Is this the year the New England Patriots draft another Jimmy Garoppolo?  Well, they better because Tom Brady is quickly approaching 42 years old and the timing would be ideal for them to groom a young quarterback to step in once the future Hall-of-Fame quarterback calls it a career.

While the thought of Bill Belichick and the Patriots stepping on the field without Brady leading the offense seems like some weird nightmare, it is a reality that is approaching.  Given what No. 12 has accomplished in his career, including a sixth Super Bowl ring, that reality may be closer than we even think.

You have to know Belichick realizes that.  Back when Brady was 37, the Patriots head honcho went out and used a second-round pick on Garoppolo.  Not only was he preparing for the future with the pick, he saw signs of decline in his quarterback.

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All that did back then was motivate Tom Brady to prove he wasn’t done and was still a top notched quarterback.  Could drafting a top quarterback prospect like Duke’s Daniel Jones spark that same kind of motivation?

It would definitely give Brady a reason to look over his shoulder, but he has to know at his age that the team needs to do what is best for their future.  As much as he wants to play the game forever, the next challenge in his career should be prepping and molding his successor to take the torch.

Reasons to like Daniel Jones

A big, tough, talented young quarterback with a high football IQ like Daniel Jones certainly fits the bill.

Projected to go anywhere from the mid-first round to the late second-round, Daniel Jones has an NFL ready body at 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds.  Coming off a season in which he had a 60.5 completion percentage, 22 touchdowns and nine interceptions while throwing for 2674 yards, he certainly has the ability to grow in the Patriots’ system behind Brady similar to how Jimmy Garoppolo.

A bit taller than Garoppolo, Jones would also come with the benefit of having worked under QB guro David Cutcliffe.  The same Cutcliffe who worked with Peyton Manning during his days at the University of Tennessee.  That experience alone should help him transition to working under and with New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and Tom Brady.

Is he worth taking with the No. 32 pick in the 2019 Draft?

According to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports, the Patriots have certainly “taken a shine” to Daniel Jones.  He was in for a workout recently with the team, but with the Patriots who knows if Jones is truly the quarterback they may be targeting.

But, if they do select him as a late first-rounder, fans should be okay with the selection.

Why take Jones?

Let’s face it, the New England Patriots need playmakers on both sides of the ball.  They need wide receivers, they need tight ends and they need pass rushers.  Mostly, they need some security and excitement behind Tom Brady.

In following the Patriots for the last two decades, they can find talent anywhere in the draft.  They are also capable of selecting some dudes in the early rounds, which is why they are in the position they are as well as a lack of young stars on both sides of the ball.

With a ton of draft picks in this draft, they could afford to take a player like Daniel Jones either in the late first-round or second round.  Given their ability to develop quarterbacks and prepare them to at least manage games, Jones would be a nice selection.

Similar to Brady, he has nice footwork in the pocket and is most accurate on intermediate throws.  He also has the ability to read defenses which is something that will grow even stronger working with McDaniels and Brady.

Now, Daniel Jones hasn’t wowed most NFL Draft experts, but if he has impressed the Patriots in some way, they must see within him an ability to eventually become a franchise quarterback.

Coming out of college, he certainly is more talented than Brady was coming out of Michigan.  The question is, can he translate his football IQ to the NFL and have the patience to grow within the system?

If the New England Patriots select him as high as No. 32, they must really think he can shine in a Patriots’ uniform.