Kurt Warner impressed with Patriots QB Mac Jones, says rookie’s ceiling still a mystery – New England Patriots Blog- ESPN – ESPN
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Quick-hit thoughts and notes around the New England Patriots and NFL:
1. Warner on Mac: Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner is attending Monday night’s AFC East showdown between the New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium (8:15, ESPN), p…….
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Quick-hit thoughts and notes around the New England Patriots and NFL:
1. Warner on Mac: Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner is attending Monday night’s AFC East showdown between the New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium (8:15, ESPN), providing analysis for Westwood One’s radio call of the game.
Warner’s presence provides an ideal opportunity to share his insight on Patriots rookie quarterback Mac Jones.
“I really like him,” Warner said. “I’m a firm believer that if you know what you’re looking at, and know where to get your eyes quickly, and you can make different kinds of throws, you can always be successful as long as your skill set is good enough at whatever level you’re playing.
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“You saw it for 20 years with Tom [Brady]. He knew what to look at. He knew how to get the ball out of his hands. He knew exactly where to throw it. And that’s exactly what I see with this young kid.”
Jones, the 15th overall pick in the 2021 draft out of Alabama, is 268-of-381 for 2,850 yards, with 16 touchdowns and eight interceptions this season.
“Sometimes he might get to his check-down a little too fast, but he’s a rookie,” Warner said. “Even if it’s getting a check-down for 4 [yards], and passing up a play for 12, you can live with that. … People want to compare him to who Tom Brady was in ’01. He’s doing more for this team, and playing better than Tom Brady did in ’01.
“To me, that’s the compliment you’re looking for. Is he Tom Brady? No. Is he one of the best guys in the league? No. But … what he’s doing at such an early stage, and playing within himself and understanding he can win that way, that’s impressive. There are guys that have been in the league a long time that don’t see the field and understand their reads like he does.”
Warner is curious to see how Jones grows over time.
“We’ve seen him make some really good throws, but I don’t know what his upside is. I’ve always believed at some point that you have to consistently make these off-platform throws, or throws when guys are in your face and you’re in different places, and some guys can physically do that and some guys can’t,” he said. “That … kind of determines, to me, how …….
