Julian Edelman wants to see Patriots QB Mac Jones face this challenge

Through the first 11 weeks of the 2021 NFL season, it is New England Patriots rookie quarterback Mac Jones shining as his team is on a five-game winning streak and sitting pretty on top of the AFC East.

Selected with the No. 15 pick overall in the 2021 NFL Draft and the fifth quarterback taken, Jones has exceeded expectations so far in his young NFL career. Not only has he won over his teammates and coaches, but Jones is also winning over the national media…well everyone except self-proclaimed Boston sports hater Nick Wright.

But, if you don’t have your haters, you must not be doing something right, so Jones should embrace those who praise him as well as those who criticism. He should also embrace even more those who embrace him who offer criticism.

Julian Edelman wants to see Patriots rookie QB Mac Jones face adversity

During an appearance on Pardon My Take on Friday, former Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman did just that. Making it clear that he is a big fan of Mac Jones, there is one thing Edelman wants to see from the rookie quarterback that will show him that he is the man going forward.

"“You want to see the toughness of a guy,” Edelman said, as transcribed by WEEI. “We’re seeing how he can take in the offense and he can be an efficient quarterback, but there’s going to be times where it isn’t always sunny. They are on a five-game winning streak, I want to see that last bit to see if he’s your guy. He’s their guy, but I want to see something go wrong and I want to see the man he is in an adverse situation. That’s when you see your best leaders. That’s when the Tom Brady’s, I mean I only know him, but when he goes out in any situation, when we were down a certain number of points, like you saw like a laser focus in his eyes. You want to see it.”"

In ways, fans have seen glimpses of Jones’ toughness.  If overcoming a 2-4 start is not evidence enough, the rookie quarterback was under duress during that stretch with a makeshift offensive line that just about got him killed. Still, he bounced back up and he stood in the pocket to deliver passes that moved the chain.

Then there was that game against the Dallas Cowboys in which he followed up a pick -6 with a 75-yard touchdown pass to Kendrick Bourne on his very next play. So, this ride hasn’t been all roses for Mac Jones, but what Edelman is saying is that Jones has been protected in a way that all the heat hasn’t fallen on him.

How will he respond and bounce back when the weight is on his shoulders like it was with the great Tom Brady. Can he lead his team back when they get down to playoff caliber teams? He may get that opportunity in the next stretch of games against the Tennessee Titans, Indianapolis Colts and Buffalo Bills twice.

In all, Patriots fans have seen the physical toughness of Mac Jones, but what about that mental toughness?

Again, he has shown signs of it, but the next test is how he responds and rallies the team when things aren’t so great.

Although the New England Patriots started the season slow, it is a lot different when the team suffers loses after winning a string of games. How he battles back is the true measure of a quarterback and Julian Edelman knows that firsthand with all the years he played with Brady.