2021 NFL Draft: Alabama’s Mac Jones has chance to secure top-20 pick status
Can Mac Jones can continue to ascend for Alabama?
Alabama quarterback Mac Jones is emerging as a contender for the Heisman Trophy with a stellar season for the Crimson Tide and, while his path to that award is an unlikely one, he has a much clearer route to being a top-20 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft after his excellent performance in last week’s win over Georgia.
Jones shredded one of the top defenses in college football for 417 passing yards and four touchdowns as he recovered brilliantly from throwing a tipped interception on the first play of the game.
As long as Trevor Lawrence continues playing at the level he has through five games, Jones will likely not be holding the Heisman come the end of the year. However, his display in the win over the Bulldogs is likely to have increased his standing among NFL evaluators.
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Jones has excelled this season at getting the ball out extremely quickly and demonstrated the ability to deliver with velocity and anticipation on intermediate throws into tight windows and with touch and accuracy on downfield attempts.
He did an impressive job of working through his progressions with a clean pocket and showcased an impressive rapport on timing throws, consistently releasing the ball as his targeted receiver came out of his break.
Jones did have issues when Georgia brought pressure and attempted to force risky throws into coverage when the Bulldog pass rush got to him.
The kind of pass rush Georgia has at its disposal is not likely to be something Jones will have to deal with regularly down the stretch, however, and if he can maintain what he has produced so far this season, NFL teams looking for a new franchise quarterback will have Jones near the top of their draft boards.
Alabama is almost certain to be favored the rest of the way but a remaining schedule that includes Tennessee on Saturday, LSU, Auburn, and a possible reunion with Georgia in the SEC Championship game should present plenty of challenges.
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Lawrence looks a lock for both the Heisman and the number one pick at this stage. Yet if Jones can come through those tests with performances akin to his dismantling of Georgia, he will have a resume to put him in the conversation to be one of the first quarterbacks taken once Lawrence is off the board.