NFL Draft: Tua Tagovailoa makes wild Mac Jones-Tom Brady comparison

Mac Jones could hardly ask for a better endorsement than the one he received from Tua Tagovailoa as the 2021 NFL Draft nears. Jones has been the subject of a great deal of hype in recent times and featured in the top 10 of Mel Kiper’s most recent mock draft, which had him going eighth overall to the Carolina Panthers.

And his predecessor as Alabama quarterback fueled the buzz around Jones by making an eye-catching comparison. Speaking on a Yahoo Sports podcast, Tagovailoa (h/t ProFootballTalk) said: “I would say he’s a sly kind of athletic person. He’s a more mobile Tom Brady. He’s very athletic, very smart too.”

Does Jones actually compare to Brady?

Jones’s smarts are not in question. Though he was aided by an outstanding supporting cast of backs and receivers at Alabama, his ability to read the field, process quickly and get the ball out in a hurry is one of the major selling points of a quarterback seen as a level below the consensus top four in the class.

It is the comment about Jones’ athleticism that will raise eyebrows. Jones is not immobile, as he can escape the pocket when he needs to. However, he is not a quarterback who can be considered anything close to a dual-threat and his talent for making plays outside of structure is limited compared to Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields, Zach Wilson and Trey Lance.

What Jones brings to NFL Draft

Jones does not have the physical tools to elevate those around him and, despite his remarkable single season as a starter with the Crimson Tide, it is putting a lot of pressure on his shoulders to expect him to cultivate his football intelligence to a level where he can replicate Brady in overcoming the shortcomings of his team while playing the role of the pocket passer.

He is a quarterback who will need to land in an ideal situation to have immediate success and is not somebody a franchise should expect to come in and instantly turn things around.

However, given the amount of support he appears to have not only as a first-round pick but as a potential top-10 selection, it would be no surprise to see a team bet a premium draft choice on Jones sparking an upturn in fortunes for their organization.