We've been over the Group of Five quarterbacks in the first round, which included how impressed we were with Mac Jones once we sat and really studied him.
Our rankings:
1. Trevor Lawrence
2. Zach Wilson
3. Jones
4. Justin Fields
5. Trey Lance
I would expect all five to be gone in the area of the Top 10. They might not get past No. 8 and the Panthers. The chances of the Patriots trading up to take a QB in that area is low, although it can't be ruled out. You just never know with Bill Belichick, and we've never seen him with a donut roster like this (hole in the middle at QB ... we're here all week). Yes, it's screaming for a QB so it's understandable why people think he might trade up; I just don't see him expending much extra capital with a team that has to build up its young talent base.
Plus, if the 49ers draft Jones as expected, then Jimmy Garoppolo will become available if Jones is healthy. There is absolutely no reason why Jones can't learn Kyle Shanahan's system in short order. Garoppolo was ready in four weeks to go 5-0 with a 6-10 team in 2017 ... coming from a different system in the middle of a season. The brilliant Jones can and will be ready to go in five months barring injury. And the 49ers are just going to let Garoppolo be the highest-paid backup quarterback in NFL history — by far? They will have spent three first-round picks and $31 million on the QB position alone in a terrible cap year. It. Makes. No. Sense.
Forget all that. It's really not relevant for the long-term health of the franchise. The Patriots have been working this quarterback class like never before, and it's not because they want a playmate for Jarrett Stidham. The Patriots are looking for the franchise QB of the future ... but it's unlikely to come from the top group due to circumstances beyond their control.
So who's left? Which draft prospects might entice the Patriots? To us, it comes down to two players, possibly another depending on the team's better knowledge of the player's intangibles. (And none of them has displaced any of the top five, so we continue with our rankings...).
6. Kellen Mond, Texas A&M, 6-2 1/2, 205, 4.62
The most experienced of all the quarterbacks in the draft, Mond reminded us a lot of Dak Prescott (who was picked in the fourth round in 2016 and most of the NFL thought was a backup with potential) with a dash of Colin Kaepernick.
Things I liked about him:
- Great arm that doesn't need much space to generate steam down the field. Powers the ball to all areas of the field and has a quick release.
- Completely unafraid in the pocket. Will stand in until the last second and take a hit to deliver a ball down the field.
- Smart player who throws with some anticipation and has a thorough knowledge of the system.
- Takes coaching to heart but sometimes too much (in a minute). Wants to learn. Wants to be great. Tireless worker.
- Solid mobility although that's not a strength. Will run effectively when needed and can run through tackles.
- Consistenly brought a team that wasn't all that talented back against better teams, including against Clemson in 2018, LSU, against Kyle Trask and Florida last year, in the Orange Bowl vs. North Carolina and the Senior Bowl when he was offensive MVP. Makes winning plays.
- Got the crap kicked out of him behind a subpar line that allowed way too many easy pressures (Mond kept the sack number down himself).
- Has already been in a pro-style offense for three years, including being under center.
- Inconsistent from series to series. Will have drives where he's out of rhythm, and then he'll catch fire and pull the game out.
- Can stare down receivers and throw into trouble, but some of that is due to the predictability of Jimbo Fisher's scheme.
- Looked at times to play tight in order to please Fisher and carry out his wishes.
- Lacks touch on deep ball at times, can forget his own arm strength (like Kaepernick).
- Carries the ball too high and unathletically. Looks a lot like Aaron Rodgers when he came out of Cal in this regard. If someone can teach Mond how to play more to his natural instincts like Mike McCarthy did with Rodgers ... look out. Right now, can play robotically at times.
- Wasn't voted a full-time captain. Don't like that at all. Teams will need to investigate that.
"His throwing is special...I think, as pure throwers right now, when you just talk to me about, 'Man, they can stripe it and throw perfect strikes every time,' (Zach) Wilson, Mac Jones and Kellen Mond to me are more machines than Trevor Lawrence is at this point. Mond has a really quick release," Simms said.
"First off, every throw he makes is bullseye. It's a rocket arm. He doesn't need space in the pocket. He can throw with pressure in the pocket. He never really misses a throw in general, altogether."
"To me, this is the guy that has just been flying under the radar," Simms said. "This is the guy I expect to get to text messages [about] from my guys in the NFL later today to go, 'You jerk. I can't believe you talked about Kellen Mond. We were hoping nobody would notice him.' I'm expecting that. It is a big-time arm, a very good athlete and he is NFL-ready at this second, right now.
- Looks like a natural at the position. Good feet, compact delivery, good enough arm.
- Throws a tight, consistent spiral.
- Throws with nice touch and anticipation at times.
- He's a future bet. You'd sit him for a year or two and see what's there after being coached up.
- If people thought Fields stared down receivers and didn't go through progressions, Mills is on another level in that regard. Seemed like he only had half-field reads at times.
- Only started 11 games and didn't show enough consistent polish to warrant a high draft choice.
- Sluggish in the pocket. Struggles at seeing pressure.
- Plays like a very young player against more complex defenses and coverage.
- Built like a classic pocket passer like Ben Roethlisberger.
- Accurate and throws a good, catchable ball.
- Throws on the move better than you think.
- Everything is slow, down to his release.
- How he reacts to pressure in the pocket. Doesn't operate well under pressure and can't slide his feet well to avoid the rush consistently.
- His teams seemed to underachieve. Went 2-5 against ranked opponents the past two seasons with Florida teams ranked 8th before the year. Doesn't raise the players around him.
- Played with two all-world players in Kyle Pitts and Kadarius Toney. Without them, I don't think Trask would be viewed highly by many. Florida's offense was basically those two and Trevon Grimes blowing by people deep or on busted coverages, and Trask hitting high-percentage checkdowns. You see more variety with the top seven.
- Didn't start in high school. Beat out Felipe Franks at Florida, which isn't saying much.
