Report: Bill Belichick ‘extremely excited’ about working with Mac Jones

Author Alex Barth

April 30th, 2021 12:54 PM

Is a rejuvenated Bill Belichick about to turn things around in Foxborough? That may be the case after the first round of the NFL Draft.

When the Patriots selected Mac Jones 15th overall on Thursday night, they added the long-term option at quarterback they’ve been missing since trading Jimmy Garoppolo in 2017. It may seem like a ‘long-term plan’ wouldn’t mesh with a 69-year-old head coach, but it sounds like Belichick is ready to see it out.

“Bill Belichick is obviously one of the older coaches in the NFL – I think he literally never retires,” Ian Rapoport said when reacting to the pick on NFL Network Friday morning. “From the sense I get, he’s extremely excited about working with a young quarterback, teaching a young quarterback, grooming a young quarterback. He hasn’t done it since Tom Brady.”

It’s an interesting statement, considering the team had drafted a drafted a quarterback in three of the five years leading up to Jones’ selection. This could be an indication that the Patriots – and  specifically Belichick – view Jones’ as more of a solid plan as opposed to some of the projects they’ve brought in in the past.

Over the last few offseasons, Belichick’s potential retirement has become more and more of a talking point. However, now that he has a new project to work on, Rapoport believes it’s time to put those conversations to the side.

“I think Bill Belichick will probably coach, oh I don’t know, forever,” he exclaimed. “And I think Mac Jones is one of the reasons why.”

MORE: Day 2 Receivers the Patriots can pair with Mac Jones

• Elijah Moore, Mississippi

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  Not to be confused with Rondale Moore, whom we had the Patriots moving up to select late in the first round in a recent mock draft. But despite being a 5-foot-9 slot receiver, Elijah Moore is another prospect expected to go in round 2. The Patriots may have to move up from the 46th pick if they want to go get him.
  
  But as a player, Moore checks a lot of boxes for New England in the scouting reports. Early separation. Strong hands. Toughness to take hits and hold onto the ball. Second-best three-cone time among all players at 6.63 seconds (via Pro Football Reference). He honestly sounds like a perfect kid for the Bucs to take and plug in with Tom Brady.
  
  The likelihood for the Patriots is that even in the post-Brady era, they still want to control the middle of the field offensively. That's why Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry are both here. But the roster lacks lack a pure slot receiver with as much upside as Moore. They may see increased value in him as other teams dock him for his size (5-foot-9, 184 pounds) and relative lack of playing strength. If he slips into the Patriots' range at 46, keep an eye on him.

• Amari Rodgers, Clemson

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  The former Clemson wideout could be a candidate to slip well into day 2 of the draft due to unexciting measurables (4.52 40-yard dash, 7.07 three-cone time) and his 5-foot-9 frame. But Rodgers' running back build makes him hard to bring down with the ball in his hands, and his combination of competitiveness and football instincts could make him more NFL-ready than a lot of rookies.
  
  Scouting reports consistently describe Rodgers as a sure-handed receiver who can catch the ball away from his body and bring down 50-50 balls down the field. But they also describe a player who needs improvement breaking away from press-man coverage and catching more contested balls against physical corners. He seems to have the baseline qualities to develop those skills, though.
  
  The Patriots must love that Rodgers was a three-year starter and played in a lot of big games while catching passes from Trevor Lawrence. He seems like he'd be a good culture fit in New England as a starting slot, if not a true No. 1 receiver.

• Amon-Ra St. Brown, USC

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  St. Brown is unique from the other receivers on this list in that he's a bigger slot. Multiple sites list him at 6-foot-1, while NFL.com tops him out at 5-foot-11 1/2. But he's another classic "more quick than fast" receiver that holds more value to the Patriots than a lot of other teams.
  
  Scouting reports generally emphasize words like "smooth" and "fluid" when describing St. Brown. He may lack the top-end speed that you'll find in elite outside receivers, but he makes up for it with body control, ball-tracking, and savvy route-running. His skill set ultimately makes him more of a slot or possession receiver, but a talented and tough one at that.
  
  One detail that might inch St. Brown up the Patriots' draft board is that he was a five-star recruit coming out of high school who drew interest from Alabama, Notre Dame, and Michigan. The Patriots have taken highly recruited players whose draft stock fell for one reason or another in the past. They may look at St. Brown and see a player who's potentially just as good as anyone else who goes in the first or second round, and just needs the right development.
• Rondale Moore, Purdue

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  The other Moore is markedly undersized. His listed height maxes out at 5-foot-9. Perfect Patriot! Another detail that could make Moore a good value pick for the Pats: his injury history could cause him to slip, perhaps even to day 3. Moore has played only seven games over the past two seasons, so his 114-catch, 12-touchdown freshman year in 2018 is the best look at his tape.
  
  Despite his limitations that made him at best a second-round pick, Moore seems like a perfect fit for the Patriots. He has the ability to get separation with his speed and route-running, and make plays after the catch. The fact that he's best suited as a slot receiver works to the Patriots' advantage. It wouldn't be a surprise if Belichick targeted this Moore with any of their picks from rounds 2-4.

• Nico Collins, Michigan

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  If the Patriots take Collins, it's another hit for the Felger and Mazz Big Board. But he doesn't feel like as much of a fit for the Pats as other wideouts on this list. His NFL.com player comparison: N'Keal Harry.
  
  Collins is a big outside receiver whose best qualities project him as a purely vertical threat. His routes lack polish, and he hasn't looked as dominant at the first and second levels of the field as he did at the third. He doesn't seem like a fit for either Jones or Cam Newton, so selecting Collins would be another Harry-like departure. But he seems to have enough raw talent to make him a target for someone in rounds 2-3.

For more NFL Draft coverage check out the Patriots Draft Hub 

Click here for 98.5 The Sports Hub’s complete coverage of the Patriots.

Alex Barth is a writer and digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Looking for a podcast guest? Let him know on Twitter @RealAlexBarth or via email at [email protected].

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Author Alex Barth

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Bill Belichick,Mac Jones,New England Patriots,NFL,nfl draft,patriots,quarterbacks