Broncos: 3 prospects to avoid in 2021 NFL Draft

2. Mac Jones, QB, Alabama

Listen, and listen closely: The answer to the Denver Broncos’ quarterback issues is NOT Mac Jones, especially with the ninth overall pick in the draft. There has been plenty of smoke about Jones being the player that the San Francisco Niners traded up to get with the third overall pick, but it is really just smoke at this point. Has Drew Lock proven that he is the franchise quarterback that Denver has been searching for since Peyton Manning retired? No, he hasn’t. Is Jones an immediate upgrade over Lock? No, he isn’t.

People may point out Jones’ relationship with Broncos wide receiver Jerry Jeudy as a reason Denver should take Jones, but that isn’t a viable reason to spend high draft capital on a player that won’t fix your issues right away. Jones doesn’t have a better arm than Lock and he doesn’t possess the mobility outside of the pocket to create plays on a whim. He does have good anticipation on his throws and took care of the ball well in his first and only season as a starter at Alabama, something that Lock struggled with during the 2020 season.

If everything isn’t perfect surrounding him, there’s a high chance that Jones would play at a lower level or at about the same as Lock did during the 2020 season. If that’s the case, then what’s the point of using the draft capital on Jones? The Broncos should avoid Mac Jones unless it’s in a developmental role, in which case, you shouldn’t draft him with the ninth overall pick.