Mac Jones 2021 NFL Draft Profile

Mac Jones NFL Draft Overview

Senior Bowl Measurements

Hand Size: 9 3/4″

Pro Day Performance Data

Mac Jones Draft Profile

It took a while for Mac Jones to find the starting lineup after years of being a backup at Alabama. After two years as a full-time backup, he entered the starting lineup following an injury to starter Tua Tagovailoa. He would play in 12 games in 2019, including four starts. He would fill in admirably, completing 97-of-141 passes for 1,503 yards, 14 touchdown passes, and three interceptions. In 2020, Jones became the full-time starter and the Tide didn’t miss a beat. Jones finished as a Heisman finalist, completing 77.4 percent of his passes for 4,500 yards, 41 touchdown passes, and only four interceptions. This included eight games of four or more touchdown passes. Jones was a consensus First-Team All-American and won the Davey O’Brien and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Awards.

Before arriving in Alabama, Jones played his high school football at the Bolles School in Jacksonville, Florida. After leading Bolles to a 12-1 record as a senior in 2016, Jones was ranked as the ninth-best pro-style quarterback in the 2017 class, according to Rivals.com.

Strengths

• Calm and poised in the pocket;
• Has very good mechanics in the play-action game;
• Able to get rid of the ball without putting it in harm’s way when pressured;
• Despite not being overly athletic, he looks comfortable while maneuvering out of the pocket;
• Saved his best for last, throwing for 14 combined touchdowns in the SEC Championship and CFP Semifinal and National Championship Games;
• Can make any throw when his mechanics are sound;
• Expects perfection, many times getting visibly upset that a completed pass could have gone for more with a better pass;
• Throws receivers open in tight coverage.

Weaknesses

• Although he looks comfortable when moving out of the pocket, he will not be making “something out of nothing” plays that have become the trend for young quarterbacks in recent years;
• Can he continue his success in the NFL after quarterbacking an offense that likely featured three first-round skill position players in this year’s draft?
• Still misses some passes when his mechanics get sloppy;
• Has a good but not great arm. How much can he stretch the field in the NFL?

NFL Comparison: Kirk Cousins

Teams With Need at Position: Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Jets, San Francisco 49ers, Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, New York Giants, New England Patriots, Washington Football Team, New Orleans Saints

Projection: First Round

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Last Word on Mac Jones

Jones enters the 2021 NFL Draft with as much uncertainty about his destination as any potential first-round selection. While many expect him to be the fifth quarterback selection, the blockbuster trade made by the 49ers last week to move to pick three is intriguing for Jones. His skill set fits Kyle Shanahan’s offense, and he can facilitate an offense that is loaded with talent. If Jones falls past San Francisco, he could potentially fall into the teens.

While he isn’t the flashiest quarterback to enter the draft in recent memory, Jones still possesses all the intangibles that teams look for. In an ideal situation, he will go to a team that runs a traditional offense and not be counted on to be “the guy” from day one. While he can likely handle the responsibilities of a starter, he doesn’t have the physical attributes to wing it. Still, he had his second Pro Day on March 30 and had a solid performance that many believed was an improvement upon his first one.

What could potentially hurt Jones’ development is if he goes to a team with few weapons and no placeholder at quarterback. Joe Burrow experienced this last season, and he spent his rookie season taking a beating while carrying a roster with little talent. Going from Alabama and a receiving corps that consistently got open to an offense that is overmatched is the worst-case scenario. Still, Jones appears to have the mental makeup to fight through adversity and come out as an upper-echelon quarterback within the next few years.

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