New England Patriots: Mac Jones, the ‘Griddy’ and an MVP prediction

Are you ready for some more Mac Jones hype?  As the New England Patriots young quarterback enters Year 2 of his NFL career there are some high expectations surrounding the Alabama product.

Whether it’s from teammates, coaches or NFL writers around the league, Jones should be even better in his second season in the league coming off a rookie season in which he was the best rookie quarterback and earned himself a Pro Bowl nod.

In completing 67.6 percent of his passes for 3,801 yards with 22 touchdowns and 13 interceptions, Mac Jones helped lead the Patriots to a 10-7 record and a playoff showdown against the Buffalo Bills.

While that wild card playoff dismantling at the hands of Josh Allen and the Bills left a sour taste in the mouth of New England Patriots fans everywhere, there was still a positive to take away from the season and even that playoff loss.  That is that the Patriots have themselves a leader in the making and an absolute competitor.

New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones has a challenge ahead of him

Veteran safety Devin McCourty lauded that competitive nature and shared how that can help Mac Jones in Year 2 with even more pressure placed upon him.

"“The hard thing for him is he’s in Year 2,” McCourty said during an appearance on NBC Sports Boston’s “The Camera Guys.”.  “I remember being in Year 2.  It was a rough Year 2 for me.  You’re trying to figure out a lot of things.  He has a lot of pressure on him.  A lot of people are going to watch every move he makes.  Everyone wants a piece of him now.  But I think he’s a guy that’s build for it, being at ‘Bama and all the success they’ve had.  So I’m excited for it, to be another older guy – when he wants to ask a question I can answer it and give the guidance that I’ve learned from my experiences and pass that along to him.”"

While a regression is possible for Mac Jones in Year 2, he has done all the things in the offseason needed to improve.  That includes getting himself “Jacked up” as far as his body goes and working with his receivers to form chemistry.

Mac Jones will be doing the “Griddy” if the playmakers around him get better

Speaking of those receivers, the Patriots quarterback should be doing the “Griddy” quite a bit in 2022 if the playmakers around him take it up a notch.

In my article highlighting three receivers who will be in the spotlight come training camp, I talked about the potential explosiveness Jones and the Patriots offense will have in two newcomers to the wide receiver group.

2022 second-round pick Tyquan Thornton has the pure speed to be that deep threat answer the Patriots are looking for and veteran receiver DeVante Parker could be an absolute beast for Mac Jones if healthy.  But what should make Jones better is other underrated components to the Patriots’ offense.

Want your voice heard? Join the Chowder And Champions team!

Write for us!

While Kendrick Bourne and Jakobi Meyers will be consistent contributors, the New England Patriots should see more in 2022 from the tight end duo of Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith as well as wide receiver Nelson Agholor.  Jones also has a collection of running backs led by Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson who can catch the ball out of the backfield.

Those two powerful backs will be complemented by the return of third-down back James White who will give Jones another check down option and a reliable target during crucial downs.

If the offensive line is solid and they should be despite the loss of Shaq Mason, the success of the offense is really on the shoulder of Mac Jones.  The decision making and efficiency passing the ball will be more of a factor with the type of playmakers around him.  Can he turn into THE GUY and make the players around him better?  That will be the challenge of Year 2 in the league as well as those players making him one of the top 10 quarterbacks in the league.

Mac Jones for MVP?  You don’t say

I thought predicting Mac Jones as a top 10 quarterback in 2022 was bold and wild, but how about an MVP prediction?

Talk about putting even more pressure on the second-year quarterback.  While there are 60-to-1 odds out there for Jones to win the 2022 NFL MVP award, former NFL executive Mike Tannenbaum has Jones as a “sneaky” NFL MVP in 2022.

Well, even more reason to do the “Griddy” right?

Here is what Tannenbaum had to ay during an appearance of ESPN’s “Get Up” as transcribed by NESN:

"“Mac Jones.  This is an offense in 2021 that averaged more points than the Tom Brady-led 2020 New England Patriots.  So, from a standpoint of, they have actually improved since Mac Jones took over.  They were sixth in the league in points, they went to the playoffs.  I think he has high character.  They got two really good running backs, two really good tight ends.  This is more of a wide receiver by committee.  I really like Mac Jones.”"

There is something to what Tannenbaum says.  Mac Jones did do more with the New England Patriots offense in 2021 than Tom Brady did in his final season with the team.  He certainly did more than Cam Newton.  While it is bold to say Jones will be a “sneaky” MVP candidate, it is not far-fetched.

If Jones can lead this Patriots team to the playoffs given the departure of offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and the arms race in the AFC, Jones should definitely get some votes.