Patriots 2021 NFL Draft: 5 quarterback prospects Belichick must draft

Why Belichick, Patriots must draft Alabama’s Mac Jones

The biggest wild card in the entire draft will be Alabama product Mac Jones.

In our Mock Draft 1.0, we have the New England Patriots actually selecting Jones in the second round, but that was months ago.

Now, it seems highly possible that the San Francisco 49ers could select Jones as high as No. 3, but if he slides down to the No. 15 spot, the Patriots should absolutely take a shot giving how familiar Belichick is with Jones’ college coach Nick Saban.

That familiarity should give the Patriots some insight as to how Mac Jones would fit in their system and if he is worth selecting at that spot over just taking quarterbacks like Davis Mills, Kyle Trask or Kellen Mond in the second or third round.

Former New England Patriots offensive coordinator Charlie Weiss has been raving about Jones and says that Belichick would be crazy not to select him because he is the one quarterback prospect who has made the plays at the college level that showcases what he can do at the pro level.

"“When you talk about Trevor Lawrence, what makes him so special is that he can do everything,” Weiss said, via ESPN.  “Mac Jones can and he’s athletic.  [Justin] Fields, really good player.  Zach Wilson, really good player.  The kid from North Dakota State [Trey Lance], really good player. “But this guy, [Jones], he’s the one making all the plays.  All he does is win and throw completions.”"

Coming off a National Championship, Mac Jones clearly knows how to win, but is he worth giving up draft capital to move up to select him?

That depends on how much Bill Belichick believes in him.  If they are looking to draft a guy who could possibly start in 2021, Jones is a must draft option if he is available at No. 15, but drafting up to get him may be a crazy, bold move.