Mac Jones made a strong first impression for the New England Patriots on Thursday, as the first-round rookie quarterback completed 13 of 19 passes for 87 yards in his NFL preseason debut against the Washington Football Team at Gillette Stadium. He passed the initial eyeball test.
But the Alabama product, wearing the No. 10, didn't start under center for the Patriots -- Cam Newton did. And former franchise quarterback Drew Bledsoe hopes the incumbent veteran gets to play most, if not all, of the 2021 season.
"I think they've got to let Cam go a little bit. And I would really like to see Cam get a full year," Bledsoe told The Zach Gelb Show on Friday. "Last year, the cupboard was kind of empty up there, and I think everybody recognizes that now. There wasn't a lot, in terms of weapons for him. They went and got some weapons, and I think it'd be great to see Cam get back out there and show why he was an NFL MVP.
"It'd also be pretty good for Mac to watch it for a year and then be ready to rock going forward. But I'd love to see Cam get a chance to get out there, get after it, and show what he can really do... I don't think [2020] was an accurate representation of what the Patriots can be, and I certainly don't think it was an accurate representation of what Cam can be..."
Newton's 2020 campaign was far from imposing. In 15 games, the 31-year-old threw more interceptions (10) than touchdowns (8), and his 47.0 quarterback rating was the second-lowest mark of his career -- when counting complete seasons played. Consequently, the Patriots finished 7-9 overall, and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2008.
Jones, who was the 15th overall pick in this year's draft, led the Crimson Tide to a national title in January, and was ranked the fifth-best quarterback on the Pro Football Focus draft board. The 6-foot-3, 214-pounder also completed an NCAA record 77.4-percent of his passes for 4,500 yards and 41 touchdowns last season, and was the first quarterback selected by New England in the first round since... Bledsoe in 1993.
The Patriots will open the 2021 season at home against the Miami Dolphins on Sept. 12. According to the William Hill Sportsbook, New England currently has the third-best odds (+350) to win the AFC East, and the sixth-best odds (+1500) to win the conference.
The entire NFL conversation between Bledsoe and Gelb can be accessed in the audio player above.