2021 NFL Mock Draft: New England Patriots Targeting QB?
2021 NFL Mock Draft: New England Patriots Targeting QB?
The post-Tom Brady Era did not go as planned for the New England Patriots. There was some hope that former Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton would be able to come in and least partially fill the void, but that didn’t end up happening.
New England finished the 2020-21 season with a 7-9 mark and failed to make the playoffs. Things got so bad at one point that opposing teams and general managers were publicly mocking them. It is all but a foregone conclusion at this juncture that Newton will not return.
So where do the Patriots go from here? Well, for starters – they are very much in the running to possibly trade for one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks. That remains a viable option.
However, if a trade doesn’t materialize, the organization will need to find its next franchise quarterback in the looming 2021 NFL Draft. Fortunately, they have a relatively high pick to work with – landing the No. 15 overall selection in this year’s proceedings.
This week, ESPN NFL draft analyst Mel Kiper appeared on ESPN’s ‘Get Up’ and revealed who he believed the Patriots would end up nabbing.
“Mac Jones is going to be interesting,” he said.
“Because New England with Tom Brady, think about Alabama’s Mac Jones and the Belichick-Saban connection. Not great athleticism. Not great mobility, but tremendous accuracy to all levels.
“I saw some reason to believe that Belichick may see a little Brady in Mac Jones coming out. I like that Saban-Belichick connection, it makes too much sense. I think Mac Jones goes somewhere in that 15 (range), think about Washington at 19.”
Jones recorded 4,500 yards and 41 touchdowns with just four interceptions, while completing 77 percent of his passes. He is tremendously accurate, and that will be a welcome change from what Newton brought to the table this past season.
While Jones’ girlfriend may have stolen the headlines at times this year, his legacy at Alabama speaks for itself. If the Patriots select him, the move could pay dividends down the road.
Now we know what motivates Gronk to play so hard. https://t.co/xFnKnjoXQ4
— Game 7 (@game7__) January 24, 2021
Related: 2021 NFL Mock Draft: Who The New York Jets Are Picking
Charles Kruger has been credentialed to cover two Super Bowls, four NBA Finals, and one World Series. A 20-year veteran in the sports world, he has sources spanning the NBA, MLB, NFL, UFC and NASCAR. Currently residing in Los Angeles, Calif., he is Game 7’s go-to source for rumors surrounding the Lakers, Clippers and Dodgers.
