Opinion: Should the New England Patriots Be Excited About the Mac Jones Draft Pick?

With the 15th overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft, the New England Patriots selected Alabama quarterback, Mac Jones. And after being drafted, one couldn’t help but notice the similarities between Mac Jones and a certain Patriots legend named Tom Brady.

While Brady was not as hyped during his drafting process, Jones was among the five quarterbacks people predicted would be taken in the first round of the draft. 

Jones was the fifth QB to be taken in the first round of the draft. And while he shares certain similarities with Tom Brady, there are doubts on whether he can deliver on the big stage. 

Thus, heading into the new season, there’s one question on every Patriots fans’ mind. Is there sufficient reason to be excited about the drafting of Mac Jones? 

Bill Belichick has a plan for Mac Jones 

The New England Patriots are among one of the winningest franchises of NFL. With six Super Bowls, the franchise sits level with the Pittsburgh Steelers for most Super Bowl wins. 

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And their fans can credit a large part of that success to the pair of Head Coach Bill Belichick and QB Tom Brady. The duo won the six Super Bowl titles together as the franchise went from playoff outsiders to one of the most dominant NFL dynasties of all time. 

Ever since Brady’s departure before the 2020 season, though, things have been different. The Pats brought in Cam Newton to fill in for Brady. But then again, that didn’t quite go to plan. 

Missing the playoffs while Brady won another Super Bowl, the Patriots know that they still need answers at their QB position. While the franchise signed Newton back on a one-year contract for 2021, many view him as a bridge quarterback. 

The drafting of Mac Jones has only solidified this belief even further. It is clear that Jones will take over from Newton as the future QB of the franchise. 

And there’s every reason to be excited about this change in personnel. Mac Jones has an eerily similar playing style to that of Tom Brady. Both are proficient pocket passers. 

Both Jones and Brady do not run the ball to gain yards. Instead, they depend on their arm’s accuracy to make plays. Another similarity in their playing style is their pocket presence.  

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Though the two aren’t runners, they are mobile on their feet within the pocket. They have the instinct to make plays in the tightest of spaces. A pocket passer with elite awareness, it’s not surprising to see why Bill Belichick, who is also the GM of the franchise, made the pick. 

To many, Mac Jones is the closest thing the NFL has seen to Tom Brady than the man himself. And given the success Brady brought along with Belichick, it’ll be interesting to follow the progression of Mac Jones.