2021 NFL Draft: Alabama QB Mac Jones scouting report

This Mac Jons scouting report highlights why the Alabama signal-caller could solidify himself as QB4 in the 2021 NFL Draft class.

Coming into this season, there seemed to be a pretty clear consensus as to who the top three quarterbacks in the 2021 NFL Draft class were.

Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields, and Trey Lance have all but solidified their first-round status but there has been plenty of debate as to who could emerge as QB4. Here we are halfway through the 2020 campaign and several names have put their name into the running.

Kyle Trask has taken a big step forward for the Gators, and BYU’s Zach Wilson has been the surprise of the 2020 season with his stellar play, but Alabama’s Mac Jones is the guy I feel has shown the most in terms of NFL-ready intangibles.

Replacing arguably the best quarterback in Alabama history is no easy task, but Jones has hit the ground running with the Crimson Tide, as he has them in contention for another College Football Playoff berth.

Mac Jones’ pros far outweigh his cons

On the season, Mac Jones has thrown for over 1,900 yards, 12 touchdowns and is completing a ridiculous 78% of his passes. Typically that percentage is attributed to a dink-and-dunk style of play but Mac Jones is far from that. He loves to air it out and is currently second in the country in yards per attempt (13).

For a quarterback with just nine starts thus far in his career, he is showing traits that would make you think he’s a four-year starter. Jones has consistently shown the ability to move defenders with his eyes and is really quick to diagnose holes in coverage. He scans the field well and has shown patience to run through his second, third, and even fourth reads if nothing is there.

Jones is definitely more of the finesse type but he pairs that with a gunslinger-style release that I absolutely love. While he doesn’t have the elite arm strength to match that powerful delivery, he makes up for it with incredible anticipation and timing.

There are plenty of examples of Jones throwing his receivers open, as he has a knack for getting rid of the ball before players reach the top of their routes and leading them into open space.

For all of the positives that Jones brings to the table as a 2021 NFL Draft prospect, there are a few things I would like to see him improve upon in the second half of the season if he is going to solidify himself as that QB4.

While I like that he isn’t afraid to take his shots downfield, he won’t have the same matchup advantages in the NFL that he currently has at Alabama. DeVonta Smith, Jaylen Waddle, and John Metchie are simply superior to most defensive backs in the country, so Jones knows he has the luxury of chucking it up and they will likely come down with it.

Jones also doesn’t possess the pocket mobility that has become essential at the next level, which could be the biggest obstacle for him to potentially sneak into the first-round conversation.

Mac Jones – Day 1 NFL Draft pick

Overall, Mac Jones has arguably helped himself more than any other QB in the country and is still ascending as a 2021 prospect.

If he can reign in some of those throws that would be considered a little risky at the next level and show a little more outside of the pocket, I believe Mac Jones could hear his name called at the tail end of Day 1 of the 2021 NFL Draft.