Perhaps no NFL recruiting candidate has more to prove at this year’s Senior Bowl than Mac Jones.
So far, so good.
The Alabama quarterback was one of the featured artists on Day 2 of Senior Bowl training, impressing observers at Mobile with his accuracy and posture.
ESPN analyst Louis Riddick wrote on Twitter that Jones “could not have had a better day than his” on Wednesday.
Independent analyst Matt Miller called the Heisman Trophy finalist “very impressive”.
During the full team goal line exercises, Jones delivered a touchdown pass for the LSU wide receiver, Racey McMath, while rolling to the right. He later fired a perfectly positioned 20-yard ball for Georgia’s tight end, Tre ‘McKitty, who made a nice reception with one hand against a tight cover.
Jim McBride of The Boston Globe wrote that Jones “has been the most accurate passer on any team for two days.”
This is in line with Jones’ performance this season. The former reserve for 2020, the fifth overall choice, Tua Tagovailoa led the country in percentage of completion (77.4 percent) during an excellent senior campaign, while he was first in passing yards (4,500), in first in yards per attempt (11.2) and second in touchdown passes (41).
Jones is widely considered the potential fifth best defender in the class this year (behind Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson, Justin Fields and Trey Lance) and can be a first-round pick, with many predictions linking him to the New England Patriots in need of QB in nº 15.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. made the Patriots – who have a long tradition of targeting players coached by Nick Saban – take Jones in his latest mock draft.
Jones’ lack of athletic ability raised questions about his NFL cap, however, as well as the support cast he played for national champion Crimson Tide. Wide receiver DeVonta Smith won Heisman and is a top 10 choice, running back Najee Harris is a first-round talent and Alabama boasted the best offensive line in college football.
This week is an opportunity for Jones to show what he can do outside the star-studded Bama attack. A strong performance in the Senior Bowl could convince skeptical teams that he deserves an investment in the first round.
Five or more defenders were selected in the first round only three times in NFL history (1983, 1999 and 2018). Five 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. At best, everyone is considered a potential customer in the middle of the round.
Florida’s Kyle Trask, considered to be the sixth flag behind Jones, was on the senior list at the Senior Bowl but dropped out due to an ankle injury.
Players will enter the field for their third and final Senior Bowl practice session on Thursday, with the all-star game scheduled for Saturday at 2:30 pm (GMT) on the NFL Network.
The Patriots have drawn up a total of 46 candidates for the Senior Bowl since 2008 – an average of 3.5 per year – and signed several more as unwritten free agents.
Miniature photo via Vasha Hunt / USA TODAY Sports Images