2021 NFL Draft: Grading every first-round pick after rookie year
By Randy Gurzi
Grading every rookie from the 2021 NFL Draft: Mac Jones, QB, New England Patriots
2021 stats:
- 3,801 passing yards
- 22 TDs, 13 INTs
- 67.7 completion percentage
- 92.5 passer rating
It was not surprising at all when the New England Patriots took Mac Jones from Alabama at No. 15 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft. Jones felt like a perfect fit in Bill Belichick’s system as a quarterback who wasn’t going to try and do too much — but also wouldn’t make many mistakes.
New England had their first losing season since the year 2000 in 2020 as they went 7-9 in the first campaign without Tom Brady. But as usual, Belichick was smart and didn’t go crazy trying to replace Brady with another superstar. Instead, he found a guy who did all the things he liked, and that led to a 10-7 campaign where Jones was head and shoulders above the four quarterbacks taken ahead of him.
Not only was he the only one to complete more than 60 percent of his throws (with an impressive 67.7 percent under his belt) but he was the only full-time starting rookie to throw more touchdowns than picks — Trey Lance finished with a 5-to-2 ratio but had two starts to Jones’ 17.
Had it not been for the explosion from Ja’Marr Chase, Jones likely would have won the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award as well.
Grade: A+