Despite a sterling Year 1 with a roster that was not built to facilitate his success, Mac Jones seems to be largely buried in discussions of the league’s elite quarterbacks.
We get it. Patriots are boring. When they’re good, the world snores. It’s been done. Overkill. But Jones is a new breed, and if you’re not yet tuned into the deep-ball-slinging, suddenly-jacked second-year quarterback, there’s no better time than the present.
Last season, it didn’t take long for the consensus to point to Jones as both the quarterback set up best for the future, as well as the overall most talented QB in his draft class, despite falling directly into Bill Belichick’s lap.
Justin Fields? Sure. Pretty nice, for an Ohio State QB. Trey Lance? The 49ers didn’t believe in him enough to supplant a clearly-hobbled (and regressing) Jimmy Garoppolo. He’s still a project. Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson? Ahhhhhh, hahaha! No.
Jones is the clear leader in the clubhouse entering the class’ second collective season, even though he continues to be discounted in most quarterback rankings. Instead of sitting a tier and a half below the upper-echelon names, Jones typically finds himself grouped with the Derek Carr Lites of the world.
That’s why we’ve got respect for Robert Griffin III, an analyst who knows a little something about what it’s like to shine in a crowded rookie class. RGIII came out in favor of Jones over the weekend, citing him as the slam-dunk first QB in his class to capture a Super Bowl.
Mac Jones is MOST LIKELY to win a ring FIRST of the rookie QBs who played serious time last year. Bill Belichick and the @Patriots are defensive masterminds, out coach other teams and Mac Attack will stretch the field more after last year has his confidence on ROLL TIDE LEVELS.
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) July 5, 2022
Patriots, Mac Jones to win Super Bowl before all other 2021 rookie QBs
Jones’ “ROLL TIDE LEVEL” confidence is tough to define, but you know it when you see it, whether it’s leading comeback charges throughout the 2021 season or launching absolute bombs all offseason long.
The tangibles are easier to spot. Add in the difficult lessons he learned during a playoff pummeling in Buffalo last year, and Jones should be emerging for 2022 looking like the Pro Bowl version of himself. You know, the guy who views the NFL as his playground.
Griffin III backtracked a little bit after he began to get aggregated, citing Lance as a wild card option. But don’t be scared, man. You picked right the first time.
Most Likely of the guys who played serious time last year. Trey Lance is the outlier. https://t.co/rjisCzZCAX
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) July 5, 2022
Will Jones win the Super Bowl in his second season, with a roster that still hasn’t quite found the No. 1 wideout option of his dreams? Probably not, pending an Odell Beckham Jr. addition.
But the Patriots’ gunslinger is the no-doubt leader in the clubhouse to capture a ring before Fields, Lawrence and the others QBs stuck in their respective messes. And that’s simple.