Adam Schefter on Mac Jones: 'The new Patriot era begins now'

ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter appeared on First Take this morning to discuss New England Patriots rookie quarterback Mac Jones, who was named the Patriots’ starting quarterback Monday after the franchise released Cam Newton.

Deeming it the start of a new era, Schefter seemed rather unsurprised by the news that Jones was selected as the starting quarterback.

“When [the San Francisco 49ers] traded away three first-round draft picks, moved up with the idea that they were comfortable taking Mac Jones, but that they would do their due diligence to Trey Lance and Justin Fields,” Schefter said. “They wound up falling further in love with Trey Lance before they took him, leaving Mac Jones to slide all the way to New England at 15 without the Patriots having to give up any additional first-round picks. From the moment Mac Jones stepped in there this summer, he looked like he was a guy ready to take over.”

Jones never actually “took over” the starting role until today, however. Patriots head coach Bill Belichick remained extremely quiet in weeks past when asked about the starting quarterback competition.

When asked about the situation on Aug. 26, Belichick said “I don’t have a timetable on that.” Then, as late as yesterday, Belichick had a similar answer when asked if they’ve made the starting quarterback decision: “No. We still have a lot of decisions to make.”

Jones looked great in the preseason, perhaps making the decision an easy one for Belichick. He completed 36 of 52 passes — holding a completion percentage of 69 — and threw for 389 yards and a touchdown.

Schefter pointed out Jones’ mistake-free preseason, suggesting it may have led the Patriots to cut Newton and roll with their first-round selection.

“He led eight preseason drives this summer,” Schefter said. “Every one resulted in either a field goal or a touchdown. There was not a single drive this preseason that he initiated that they didn’t score on. He impressed coaches with his accuracy. I spoke to one head coach last week who told me that he thought that Mac Jones could be and would be a Pro Bowl quarterback in this league for ten years.”

The Patriots drafted Jones, Alabama’s national championship-winning quarterback, with the 15th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Jones took his first and only season as Alabama’s starter in stride, setting an NCAA single-season record with a 77.4 completion percentage, coupled with 4,500 passing yards, 41 touchdowns and just four interceptions. He was a Heisman Trophy finalist in 2020 but ultimately lost to his teammate, wide receiver DeVonta Smith.

According to Schefter, the only surprising part of this decision is the decision to release Newton, rather than benching him.

“I’ll be honest: I fully thought that [Jones] was going to wind up as the starting quarterback on opening day. What I didn’t expect was the Patriots today would release Cam Newton. But what that tells you is that they are so sure of Mac Jones that they felt like it would be unfair to have Cam on the roster.

“The new Patriot era begins now.”