Can Mac Jones make the leap in 2023?

Mac Jones had an excellent first year in the NFL. Drafted by the New England Patriots in 2021 with the 15th overall pick, Jones was the runner-up for the Rookie of the Year award and threw for almost 4,000 yards and 22 touchdowns. As imposing as he was in his first year, we saw a drop-off in his performance in 2022. His game has good qualities, but last season showed that he has some holes to fill. 

Jones has the qualities to be successful

Jones came from the outstanding Alabama program, which has grown some great players for the NFL. The 24-year-old made the playoffs in his first year, and many suggested he could have a great future ahead of him.

A strength of Jones is his ability to remain very poised in the pocket, an essential asset for a quarterback as it allows a play to develop and receivers to get open. He is a good decision-maker on the field, enabling him to get the ball to his receivers quickly.

Mac can process the game well, which is crucial because hesitation is a terrible quality to have as a QB. Historically, younger quarterbacks need help with the speed of an NFL game, but Jones can make good reads under pressure.

It is important to note that the Patriots don’t have many big playmakers on their roster. Having weapons will help propel a quarterback’s development massively. Tua Tagovailoa and the Miami Dolphins are prime examples of this. If New England can add someone like DeAndre Hopkins this summer, then that’s only going to help the development of Jones.

What is holding him back?

As previously stated, Jones’ second year has left many questions about his future as an NFL starter. Arm strength is a big part of a quarterback’s role, as it could make the difference between winning and losing.

Like many young quarterbacks, Jones locks on to a receiving target. Jones may miss the opportunity to throw to an open receiver as he locks in on his target. One of Jones’ strengths was that he was able to remain poised in the pocket. However, this goes away when met with immense pressure as Jones seems to panic. Due to his build, he can’t rush the ball as effectively as some of his peers.

Jones has shown that he can be great, but he needs to fix the problems before making an impact.