2021 NFL Draft: Huge QB trades in pre-Super Bowl mock draft

2021 NFL Draft: 8th pick

I wrestled with whether I had the conviction to put this pick in a mock draft, but it’s an interesting scenario to talk about so let’s talk about it.

The Carolina Panthers coached Mac Jones at the 2021 Senior Bowl. Jones was the best quarterback prospect at the Senior Bowl and the Panthers were the one coaching staff of the two involved in the week’s festivities (Dolphins the other) whose team may be in the market for first-round quarterbacks.

Jones doesn’t get a ton of hype because he’s not going to blaze the track in the 40-yard dash, he doesn’t have Josh Allen-like arm talent, and people think the stigma around Alabama quarterbacks is real (it’s not, always scout the player not the jersey or helmet).

It’s difficult to find flaws in Jones’ game. While his arm strength is not other-worldly, he makes every throw and has been executing NFL concepts while at Alabama.

He has a good understanding of coverages and which routes to throw against those different coverages. He has plenty of pocket mobility and even though he’s not going to be running the triple-option anytime soon, he’s also not out there trudging around with cement blocks on his feet.

The Panthers had to come away impressed with what they saw from Jones at the Senior Bowl, but it wasn’t enough to prevent them from trying to trade the 8th pick in the draft for Matthew Stafford.

With no Stafford, maybe the Panthers enter the Deshaun Watson sweepstakes. Ultimately, if they end up not winning any trade sweepstakes for veteran quarterbacks, Jones is a guy that Matt Rhule is going to be able to win with.

The Panthers could go with a higher upside player in Trey Lance here, but with Jones’ production these past two seasons and his time on task with the Panthers’ coaching staff, it wouldn’t surprise me if Matt Rhule and Joe Brady convince the Panthers’ front office that this guy can be the point guard for their plethora of offensive talent.