ESPN’s Riddick: Some Say Jones is “Best QB” in 2021 Class

The 2021 NFL draft features a very deep talent pool at the quarterback position. As the draft draws near, national media outlets continue to predict the order in which the quarterbacks will be selected, as well as how successful they will be in the long run. 

ESPN’s Louis Riddick spoke very highly of Alabama’s Mac Jones in a segment on the ESPN’s sports talk show “Get Up!” early Thursday morning, saying from some evaluators he’s talked to, Jones is considered the “best quarterback” in this year’s draft. 

“How many times have we talked about quarterbacks from the neck up and whether or not they can summon that instinctive intrinsic quality to make good decisions and be accurate over and over and over and over and over again,” Riddick said. “That’s what people point to on top of the fact that Mac Jones throws the football very well…” 

Riddick, along with host Mike Greenberg and analyst Booger McFarland cited the strength of this quarterback class and the immense talent it features, as Jones is up against prospects like Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence and Ohio State’s Justin Fields for the early first round picks. 

Get our free mobile app

Riddick doubled down on his analysis of Jones as well as other evaluators he’s talked to based on Jones’ capacity for quick and decisive thinking with the football.

“It’s because of the innate qualities and the mental qualities that Mac Jones possesses” Riddick said. “the kinds of things he is able to make up for with his mind that he doesn’t have in terms of physical skill, lead people to believe that in the NFL, in the drop back game which you’re going to have to master, he might be the very best…”

When McFarland offered a dissenting opinion on Jones, Riddick paid the Alabama star a huge compliment by comparing his decision making abilities to the qualities of what makes NFL legend Tom Brady so successful.

“When they talk about quarterback play they talk about not putting our team in jeopardy by being careless with the football,” Riddick said. “Can you in crucial moments with two minutes at the end of the game when it’s within seven points, can you make the right call and can you do it not once, not twice, but enough to win superbowls. The guy who has won the most Superbowls, the guy who we consider the GOAT, is that kind of guy.”

The wait to see where Jones and all the other NFL hopefuls will be drafted ends at 7:00 p.m. CT Thursday April 29th when the 2021 NFL Draft begins live from Cleveland. Full coverage of the draft will be provided by ABC, ESPN, NFL Network and on their respective apps.