Patriots: Rival coach believes drafting Mac Jones had to do with offseason additions
Remember when that viral video of Bill Belichick seemingly shaking his head in disgust when Mac Jones overthrew a receiver during his pro day make its rounds on social media?
Remember the draft night footage in the New England Patriots‘ war room when Belichick and the rest of the team’s executives didn’t exactly seem like they were completely sure about taking Jones at No. 15?
Those two instances could suggest Jones was never really the Patriots’ “guy” leading up to the big night.
Make of that information what you will. We have no idea what to make of it.
Jones is a Patriot, that’s the end of the story.
However, comments from a rival coach suggest that Jones indeed may have not been exactly what the Pats were looking for, which now has us thinking …
From a coach in the AFC East on Mac Jones: "He processes so well that it will make his lack of athleticism a small issue. And they'll also be able to run the "O" the way Josh wants it run, especially with the 2 tight ends they added. Don't know if Mac was their guy but it works."
— Mike Giardi (@MikeGiardi) May 10, 2021
The Patriots drafted Mac Jones, but was he their “guy”?
Did Belichick simply go on that free agency spending spree and get his hands on all of the guys he preferred to make the offensive system as potent it could possibly be so it didn’t really matter who was under center?
You’d have to think Cam Newton is going to succeed after he showed flashes of brilliance despite limited talent around him. Now, he’s got a somewhat competent receiving corps and an elite group of tight ends to go along with a relentless rushing attack and a stacked offensive line.
That probably got the Pats thinking — if Jones can merely remain upright in the pocket, go through his reads, and utilize his accurate arm like he did in college, why wouldn’t this work? So maybe they shrugged and said, “Alright, if he’s there, we’ll take him. If not, we can trade down and acquire more assets.” It’s really not that insane when you think about it.
Was the 49ers' smokescreen involving Mac Jones and rumored trade talks with the Patriots involving Jimmy Garoppolo all interconnected?https://t.co/cTcL80Z597
— Doug Kyed (@DougKyed) May 10, 2021
Use Newton as a stopgap, let Jones learn the offense for a year, keep the same pieces around him (and maybe add some more) in 2022, and see what he can do. If he fails? The Patriots didn’t have many options anyway. If he succeeds? They may have their quarterback of the future.
Nonetheless, just like how they operated with Tom Brady for 20 years, the Patriots can cater the system to whomever is under center, so long as that person is a capable football mind and above-average passer. Brady is one of the best to ever do it, but don’t forget he was molded by one of the greatest coaching staffs ever, including two tremendous offensive minds in Charlie Weis and Josh McDaniels.
Was Jones the Patriots’ “guy”? We really don’t know. But it’s a logical fit to the puzzle. And the personnel is there to potentially bring it all together.