Patriots end Mac Jones' slide at No. 15

The New England Patriots ended Mac Jones' slide in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, selecting the former Alabama quarterback with the No. 15 overall pick.

Jones was the fifth quarterback taken Thursday following Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson, Trey Lance, and Justin Fields. He was reportedly in contention to be the San Francisco 49ers' pick at No. 3 overall, but the NFC West club selected Lance instead.

Jones is the first quarterback selected in the first round by the Patriots since 1993.

New England brought back Cam Newton for a second season on another incentive-based one-year contract, so Jones could potentially sit behind the former MVP.

Newton struggled in his first season with the Patriots, but the AFC East club poured resources into the offense during free agency to revamp the unit. Wide receiver Nelson Agholor and tight ends Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith were among the biggest additions.

Draft profile Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Key stats: 77.4 completion percentage, 4,500 passing yards, 41 TDs, 4 INTs, 1 rushing TDs

Jones' draft stock soared after an incredibly productive 2020 campaign that saw him contend for the Heisman Trophy. There's a lot to like, most notably his accuracy, pocket presence, and ability to process multiple reads efficiently. Jones' comfort level in Alabama's offense was apparent. However, there are concerns regarding him being able to create outside of structure. He's an average athlete, doesn't possess the strongest arm, and will likely struggle to make NFL defenders miss both in the pocket and outside it. Jones has transferrable skills, just not enough to warrant first-round hype.

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