Patriots’ Mac Jones is Team’s First QB Pick in First Round of NFL Draft Since Bledsoe
GoLocalProv Sports Team
Patriots’ Mac Jones is Team’s First QB Pick in First Round of NFL Draft Since Bledsoe
The move marks the first time the Pats have gone with a quarterback in the first round since 1993 — when they went with Drew Bledsoe.
Jones was Alabama’s starting quarterback, following Tua Tagovailoa’s departure for the draft in 2019.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTHe led the team to an undefeated season as a starter when he took over in 2020, and won the national championship over Ohio State 52-24.
Alabama tied the 2004 Miami Hurricanes by getting six players – WRs Jaylen Waddle and DeVonta Smith, Jones, CB Patrick Surtain II, OL Alex Leatherwood and RB Najee Harris – called in the first round.
Jones in Draft
Jones was asked on the ESPN broadcast what the roller coaster was like as he had to wait until No. 15 to be selected.
"It was fine. I mean, you just sit around and wait and I'm just so blessed to be a part of a great organization, and it's not really where you get picked -- it's what you do with the opportunity and that's what [Alabama] Coach [Nick] Saban told me, so I'm just gonna follow that," he said.
Later, in a videoconference with reporters, Jones said the Patriots were the team he "secretly" wanted to be selected by.
"At the end of the day, you kind of want to get the right fit. I feel like, secretly, I really wanted to go to the Patriots all along. So I'm actually really happy it happened," he said.