New England Patriots: Mac Jones earns Pats an ‘A’ on Day 1 of NFL Draft

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JANUARY 11: Mac Jones #10 of the Alabama Crimson Tide stands in the pocket during the College Football Playoff National Championship football game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Hard Rock Stadium on January 11, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida. The Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes 52-24. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JANUARY 11: Mac Jones #10 of the Alabama Crimson Tide stands in the pocket during the College Football Playoff National Championship football game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Hard Rock Stadium on January 11, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida. The Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes 52-24. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) /
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New England Patriots
New England Patriots Mac Jones (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Why the Mac Jones pick is an excellent one for the New England Patriots

As a fan of a dual-threat quarterback e.g. Trey Lance of North Dakota State or Justin Fields of Ohio State they would have been the preferred picks here. But at what cost? Monstrous for Lance and substantial for Fields.

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Instead, they took a bonafide top pocket passer from Alabama at their own No. 15 pick and it cost them nothing additional. Keep in mind, Jones was being looked at seriously by some observers as a possible if not likely pick by San Francisco with the third overall pick in the draft.

Let’s make one thing perfectly clear, this is no chopped liver guy they chose. If there is any disappointment from not getting a dual-threat type, be cool. This guy can play.

He’s an accurate passer, like 77.4 percent of his passes last season. The negative guys will say, well that’s because he had a pro-level offense accompanying him. Fair enough. He did.

So what is a good quarterback supposed to do with that type of talent,? Right, excel. That’s exactly what he did.

Add 41 touchdowns and only four interceptions and that’s production. Real production. Anyone who thinks Mac Jones is chopped liver is out to lunch.

His footwork in the pocket is exceptional. Accuracy, phenomenal. And quite likely, Jones may have been the choice for New England all along which makes the pick even sweeter.