the rich keefe show: the all important Madden ratings are coming out and where will Mac Jones rank?
The Patriots’ rookie class reported to Gillette Stadium on Friday ahead of training camp, but it’s still Mac Jones who is the headline grab.
Fox Sports’ Colin Cowherd, alongside co-host Jason McIntyre, shared a take of his regarding New England’s third-year quarterback on The Herd on Thursday:
“I think Mac Jones is a ‘B’ quarterback that has been treated like a ‘D’ quarterback. I think he’s very capable. Why do I think that? Because I watched his rookie year with average personnel. Personnel that drove Brady crazy, he walked in, was like 9-8, good numbers.”
“I think Mac Jones is pretty good. I think he’s absolutely as good as Kirk Cousins,” Cowherd continued. “He’s got, literally, he has no number one receiver, no number one tight end. His college receivers were far better than his current Patriot receivers. His college backup receiver was Jaylen Waddle. That was the third receiver. That’s better, by far, than any Patriot receiver as a number one. So he just has nothing to work with.”
New England’s current wide receiver room consists of veterans JuJu Smith-Schuster, DeVante Parker, Kendrick Bourne, Tyquan Thornton, Raleigh Webb, and Tre Nixon - and rookies Kayshon Boutte, Demario Douglas, Malik Cunningham, and Ed Lee.
“He’s on his third coordinator in what, his third or fourth year," Cowherd explained. "Everybody thinks [Jones] is just no good. I think he’s good, but he’s being held back. It took Brady about three years to pop, took Kirk another team to pop. Not everybody pops early. Some people, slow growth.”
“A lot of these guys just need help.”
The conversation got interesting when McIntyre suggested that Cowherd should have had Jones on his list of five quarterbacks under the most pressure heading into 2023. Here's a look at the back-and-forth:
Cowherd: “Pressure? How about get him a coordinator!
McIntyre: “Okay, he’s got a coordinator.” (Bill O’Brien)
CC: “Okay so let’s give him a year with a legitimate coordinator.”
JM: “Yes, but here’s the thing, the clock is ticking on his rookie deal.”
CC: “That’s not his fault, it’s the organization that screwed it up.”
JM: “I get that, but is there pressure on him: ‘hey Mac, Bill Belichick, allegedly on the hot seat’. If Mac Jones goes out there and poops his pants again like last year, Belichick’s moving on. He’s going to find a new guy.”
CC: “Let me tell you something, if Mac Jones hits the market, he’s going to have suitors.”
Cowherd then suggested that the Raiders, with Jones’ former coordinator Josh McDaniels at head coach, should be in on him if they can’t land a stud quarterback like Caleb Williams or Drake Maye at the top of next year’s draft.
In his’ lone season with McDaniels in his ear, Jones threw 3,801 yards and 22 touchdowns, and put up a 10-7 record while leading the Patriots to the postseason.
While he undoubtedly got the short end of the stick in 2022, the signal caller does still have pressure on him to perform in 2023.
If he plays well this coming season, he'll likely have his fifth-year option picked up by New England. If he doesn't, then I don't see who would pay him the big bucks on the open market.
Make sure to follow Mike on Twitter @mikekadlick, and follow @WEEI for the latest up-to-date Patriots and Boston sports news!
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