How high will Mac Jones get drafted? Mel Kiper Jr. makes his prediction
Mac Jones’ rise from being Tua Tagovailoa’s backup to a potential first-round pick has been meteoric.
Jones won’t wow anyone with his athleticism or arm strength, but his surgical accuracy and critical decision-making will.
The Alabama quarterback leads the nation’s most explosive offense, and while Najee Harris and DeVonta Smith certainly have much to do with that, Jones makes it all work.
Jones hasn’t revealed whether he’ll enter the NFL Draft or return to Alabama for another season, but if he were to enter the draft, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. made a prediction as to how high he could go.
“His accuracy on all levels is really incredible,” Kiper said Monday on ESPN’s Get Up, via 247Sports. “I think the way he played this year, after only four starts last season, and to not have (Henry) Ruggs, to not have (Jerry) Jeudy and then Waddle got hurt and it’s the DeVonta Smith show. His accuracy, no matter who’s out there, is spectacular. He is not Joe Burrow. Those comparisons are exaggerated. He doesn’t beat you with his legs like Burrow did. He’s not the runner Burrow is. That’s what beat Alabama, is the legs.
“When you look at Mac Jones, middle of the first round sits the New England Patriots. We know about the Saban-Belichick connection. Is Mac Jones going to be a Patriot? We’ll see. That’s, I think, the ceiling, as high as Mac Jones could come off the board is the middle of the first round.”
The Alabama quarterback has completed 275-of-357 passes (77 percent) with 36 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. Jones will lead Alabama’s offense against Ohio State’s defense Monday night in the national title.
I would love to see Mac go round one but I expect him to be somewhere in round two..
That being said, I don’t expect it but if he decides to come Back Young will transfer….
Young is subject to transfer anyway…to Texas.
Without Mac young is the starter and not going anywhere..
Sark has a long term relationship with Bryce, recruited him to Alabama. Young could be the starter at Texas too. I don’t think Sark is above suggesting that to him.
Sure but I don’t think young leaves Bama if he is the starter… There is no benefit at all to give up being the starter at Bama to go to a rebuilding Texas team you know nothing about…
The benefit would be relationships – the known vs. the unknown.
I’m willing to bet he made more relationships over the last season with Bama than he would have just showing up at Texas…
Yeah, you’re right. I never thought of that. :)
I could see Mac coming back for another year under his belt. He’s only started one season and though it has been an awesome season I think he could use another one to solidify his draft stock. Having said that, I also don’t want to lose Bryce, who yes could go to Texas. Remember we play Texas in 2022, the last thing I want is a hot sophomore Bryce Young throwing TD’s all over Alabama to get “Texas Back” as a national contender. That would be bad.
Will he come back?
I don’t know
But if I were him I would a lot happier getting drafted by the Patriots this year than the worst team in the NFL next year.
I agree … plus the risk of injury coming back or having a lackluster season. Mac’s stock is about as high as it’s going to get. I really can’t imagine him coming back …especially if Bama wins Monday.
If they win on Monday he should leave and go out on a high note.
I don’t see Jones in the 1st round. He is very good & has many of the intangibles but not 1st round. I hope I’m wrong though.
I think Mac goes and is a 1st rounder. With all that Bama is losing this year, it would be a risk for him to return and have a year that is not equal to this year. It does not mean Bama will be bad, but they certainly will probably not be as explosive.
rich man’s brady. another dump off artist supreme, except moves, throws better. way smarter. brady was 6th rounder, so maybe pick up 5th