Patriots 4-round 2021 NFL mock draft 1.0: Bill Belichick is on the clock
Round 2 No 46 : Mac Jones – quarterback, University of Alabama
NFL drafts rarely go as projected, especially for the New England Patriots.
While the team’s glaring need at quarterback would suggest one of the top QB prospects drafted in the first round, it wouldn’t be a shock or surprise if Bill Belichick goes in another directed at No. 15 as projected by this mock draft.
But don’t rule out Alabama quarterback Mac Jones ending up in New England.
With Jones projected to go anywhere from the middle of the first round to late in the second round, if Jones is there at No. 46 or even early in the second round, the Patriots will make a move to get him.
46. player. 829. . Quarterback. Crimson Tide . Mac Jones
Of course, this all depends on who the team lands at quarterback in either free agency or trade, but Jones is essentially the kind of quarterback who could flourish under Belichick and Josh McDaniels.
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Not only does he come from a winning program, but his intelligence and pocket presence are two intangibles the Patriots love in a quarterback. Actually, it has been all they have known for nearly two decades. The pocket presence component was glaringly missing in 2020 with Cam Newton under center (which is not a knock on Cam).
Then there is the Nick Saban factor.
Belichick loves Alabama players mostly because of his closeness with Saban. But Mac Jones has shown on the field in big games that he is a big-time winner. In the 2020 national title game, Jones went off throwing for 464 yards and five touchdowns.
Why would he possibly slide into the second round?
He does lack the mobility that has now become the trend in the NFL. The New England Patriots tried it and it didn’t work for them, so they will take a gamble and pass on Jones in the first round just to see that gamble work out when they select again in the second round.