Patriots: ‘Blue smoke and Mirrors’ approach lands Mac Jones at 15
Bill Belichick and Scott Pioli must have been rolling in the aisles in the Patriots’ draft room. The team that resented Belichick the most, and those feelings seemed to be totally reciprocal from the former HC of the NYJ, perhaps made just the pick Belichick had hoped for.
More from New England Patriots
- Former Patriot Stevan Ridley Put Kevin Hart in a Wheelchair
- 3 Patriots Who Can Clinch a Roster Spot in Final Preseason Game
- Patriots Get Win Over Division Rivals Before Season Even Begins
- New Massachusetts Sportsbook Promos: $450 Bonus to Bet on Your Patriots at Caesars + DraftKings
- Ezekiel Elliott Reveals 3 Reasons Why He Signed With Patriots
The New England Patriots then selected the player that most likely they were after all along with the 10th overall pick, it was Jerod Mayo.
Mayo went on to be a two-time Pro Bowler, and even more impressive a first-Team All-Pro one season.
Mayo had a nice career with the Patriots until injuries cut short his playing time. Now, however, he’s the Patriots’ linebackers coach with a bright coaching future ahead of him, for sure.
So, the end result of the “Blue smoke and mirrors”, the Jets get a draft bust and the Patriots get a future All-Pro, a Captain/Leader, current coach, and an all-around top player and person.
Did the New England Patriots apply that same draft strategy this season?
Now, what does any of this history lesson have to do with now, the 2021 NFL Draft and the New England Patriots. Well, maybe nothing. But then again, maybe everything.
We saw maybe the same sub-strategy being used this year. New England was seemingly going all-out to try to convince the rest of the NFL that the apple of their eye was quarterback Justin Fields from Ohio State.
Fields was available at No. 11 yesterday, available for a trade-up. What happened? Chicago moved up and took Fields. New England stayed put and came away with Mac Jones.
Next. Patriots 2021 NFL Draft: Mac Jones was molded for New England. dark
That’s the Mac Jones whom some astute observers thought was one of the top two or three quarterbacks in the draft. Got him at No. 15. Was that their choice all along?
Was that another astute use of Belichickian sleight-of-hand? Who knows. But will someone turn on the fan and please clear that blue smoke out of here. You can hardly see a thing.