MAC JONES: Can He Be The Next Tom Brady?

Many have debated a lot about the New England Patriots dynasty, and it essentially comes down to two premier players: Bill Belichick and Tom Brady. That’s because, for almost two decades, this duo led the Patriots to six super bowls, amassing numerous records in the process.

However, all good things must come to an end, and at the beginning of the 2020-21 season, Tom Brady departed New England for Tampa Bay, winning another super bowl in the process. To say that the Patriots struggled would be an understatement, as they missed the playoffs for the first time in what seemed like a lifetime. The team never missed out on the playoffs when “The GOAT” was healthy.

Missing the playoffs made the franchise hit the refresh button, and for the first time since the mid-90s, they drafted a quarterback as a first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

THE NEW QB ON THE BLOCK
Enter Mac Jones, a premier player that doesn’t need any introductions among college football fans, thanks to his heroics as the starting quarterback at the University of Alabama. Initially, a mere backup to the equally illustrious young QB Tua Tagovailoa, Mac Jones made a name for himself in his first and only season as Alabama’s undisputed starter.

Jones led the team to a national championship and bagged a slew of awards such as the Davey O’Brien, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm, and Manning Awards, all for his sterling contributions to a top-notch offense. The premier player also shattered numerous school, state, and national records in the process, beating marks set by his former competition in Tua.

LOFTY COMPARISONS
It’s almost a disservice to any young quarterback in the world to compare him to the greatest of all time, Tom Brady. That’s because no one could have predicted that a sixth-round pick would have turned out to be a seven-time NFL champion, bagging multiple league MVPs in the process. However, there are a few similarities between Tom and Mac that seemingly show a trend and a reason why Coach Belichick seemed so eager to break with tradition.

First off, both of them have similar builds, they both shine as conductors of star-laden teams, and they both have a startling desire to win. Furthermore, both aren’t exceptional athletes at any stretch of the imagination, but they make up with consistency what they don’t have in athletic ability. Last but not least is the circumstances of their rookie years, as it seems that Mac Jones has his work cut out to dislodge and premier player in Cam Newton, the same way Tom had to bide his time dislodging starter Drew Bledsoe and backups John Friesz and Michael Bishop.

FINAL THOUGHTS
Tom Brady’s success as a world-class quarterback didn’t come easy, and many have attributed it to his work ethic, competitive spirit, pocket awareness, and intelligence. Mac Jones has exhibited some of the above traits, and he’s proved himself as a leader of top-notch prospects. However, the premier player is facing a herculean task replacing the greatest ever to do it, and in the process, he has to dislodge a former MVP.

It’s not the first time that the lad from Jacksonville, FL, has faced stiff competition, and it’s been said he relishes a challenge. Let’s see how it goes, but one thing is for sure, Patriots fans, football critics, and casuals are sure going to have a lot to talk about during the NFL season!

Article by Premier Players