NFL Draft 2021: 49ers, 4 other teams who may want Mac Jones

No. 2: Patriots, 49ers both eyeing Justin Fields for NFL Draft

Both the 49ers and New England Patriots attended Justin Fields’ second pro day.

So, where does Mac Jones fit into that speculation and report?

Well, for starters, it helps suggest the Pats are looking at rookie quarterbacks closely despite bringing back Cam Newton on a one-year deal. It’s pretty clear Newton remains only a bridge option. And with New England selecting at No. 15 overall, the same scenario applies as does to Denver.

Either it’ll take a quarterback like Jones falling or, more likely, the Patriots will have to engineer some sort of trade-up to get in the range where someone like Fields would be if the Niners pass on him.

If San Francisco passes on Fields or Lance for Jones, the Patriots are going to be one of many teams likely willing to scramble on an aggressive trade-up into the top 10, perhaps needing to get into the top six. Although head coach Bill Belichick, also someone who has worked with traditional pocket passers (ahem, Tom Brady), there’s an awfully good chance he’s looking closely at Jones, too.

Based on some of the reports, one could almost consider Fields as the Patriots’ option 1A while Jones is 1B.