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Perhaps no NFL draft prospect has more to prove at this year’s Senior Bowl than Mac Jones.
So far, so good.
The Alabama quarterback was one of the most notable performers on Day 2 of Senior Bowl practice, wowing Mobile watchers with his precision and composure.
ESPN analyst Louis Riddick wrote on Twitter that Jones “couldn’t have had a better day than him” on Wednesday.
Independent draft analyst Matt Miller called the Heisman Trophy finalist “very impressive.”
During the full team goal line drills, Jones issued a touchdown pass wide receiver LSU Racey McMath rolling to his right. He later pulled a perfectly placed 20 yard ball Georgia tight end Tre ‘McKitty, who pulled off a nice one-handed grip against tight blanket.
Jim McBride of the Boston Globe wrote that Jones “was either team’s most accurate passer for two days.”
This dovetails with Jones’ performance this season. Former 2020 fifth overall pick Tua Tagovailoa led the country in completion percentage (77.4%) during a formidable senior campaign while also placing first in passing yards ( 4,500), first in yards per attempt (11.2) and second in touchdown passes (41).
Jones is widely regarded as the fifth best quarterback in the class this year (behind Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson, Justin Fields and Trey Lance) and could be a first-round pick, with many tipsters linking him to the New England Patriots. in need. at n ° 15.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. had the Patriots – who have a long tradition of targeting players coached by Nick Saban – taking Jones in his last mock draft.
Jones’ lack of top athleticism, however, raised questions about his ceiling in the NFL, as did the busy supporting cast he played with on National Champion Crimson Tide. Wide receiver DeVonta Smith won the Heisman and is among the top 10 picks, running back Najee Harris is a first-round talent and Alabama have boasted of the best offensive line in college football.
This week is Jones’ opportunity to show off what he can do outside of this star studded Bama attack. A strong performance at the Senior Bowl could convince skeptical teams that it deserves a first-round investment.
Five or more quarterbacks have been selected in the first round just three times in NFL history (1983, 1999 and 2018). Five of them entered the top 20 only once (1999).
Kellen Mond of Texas A&M, Ian Book of Notre Dame, Sam Ehlinger of Texas, Felipe Franks of Arkansas and Jamie Newman of Georgia are the other QBs in this year’s Senior Bowl crop. All are viewed as mid-turn prospects at best.
Florida’s Kyle Trask, considered the sixth signalman behind Jones, was on the original Senior Bowl roster but retired with an ankle injury.
Players will be on the field for their third and final Senior Bowl practice on Thursday, with the All-Star Game itself scheduled for Saturday at 2:30 p.m. ET on NFL Network.
The Patriots have drafted a total of 46 Senior Bowl prospects since 2008 – an average of 3.5 per year – and have signed several more as undrafted free agents.
Thumbnail photo via Vasha Hunt / USA TODAY Sports Images
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