NFL: Ranking every quarterback midseason

NFL: Ranking every quarterback midseason: 17. Mac Jones – New England Patriots

There is a clear drop off from 16 to 17 on this list. That’s not anything against Mac Jones of the New England Patriots. He looks by far the best of the rookie quarterbacks. The Patriots weren’t letting him really sling the ball, and they went for a ball-control offense. That wasn’t going to work this season, and they finally took the reigns off Jones against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Patriots have looked much better offensively since then. They were very close in games with the Bucs and Dallas Cowboys, two teams who are considered Super Bowl contenders. They destroyed the New York Jets, and they held a furious comeback against the lowly Houston Texans. It hasn’t been a banner year in New England, but there’s clear growth with this offense.

Jones seems to be getting better every week. Yes, that’s a trope, but it’s one that comes with a lot of truth. After a disastrous game against the New Orleans Saints, Jones has at least a 95 quarterback rating every week. He was over 115 in Weeks 6 and 7. The Patriots are still being safe when they absolutely have to be, which is keeping Jones out of trouble.

It will be interesting to see how the second half of the Patriots season goes. Will they be playoff contenders, or will they fall short again? It largely falls on the shoulders of Mac Jones. If he can continue getting better and find a way to be a top-15 QB, then the Pats will have a chance to sneak into that final playoff spot.