Mac Jones was the last first-round quarterback taken in the 2021 NFL Draft. There's no question, however, that halfway through all their rookie seasons, the Patriots' No. 15 overall pick has been the best of the bunch.
Zach Wilson, who went No. 2 to the Jets, remains on the shelf with a knee injury. Trey Lance, the No. 3 pick of the 49ers, rides the bench behind a suddenly red-hot Jimmy Garoppolo. Justin Fields had to wait a while to play after going No. 11 to the Bears and still could finish strong.
Because of that Jones, who has started since Week 1, can be only compared to the Jaguars' Trevor Lawrence.