I see it as an interesting exercise to compare Mac and Jimmy, but they are at different points in their. I look at it more as can Mac Jones become Jimmy G or even better. Garoppolo has led a team to the super bowl. He was always a very accurate QB who could find the open guy, understood the scheme and could process at the speed necessary. But Mac is probably better at 25 than Garoppolo was at 25. Garoppolo had less opportunity then but we got to see him a fair amount between preseason and injury fill in.
If you want to compare them based on what they can do right now, Garoppolo is better. He probably is not going to last 5 more seasons though. You pick Garoppolo over Mac if you are a contending team or think you could be one, like the Jets for example. Mac seems like the better option for the Patriots though. Good enough now, but way better long term value. Mac could be a good QB for the next 10 or more seasons.
Coming in I actually thought it was going to be comparison of Mac at 25 to Jimmy G at 25.
For people that haven’t already given up on Mac, it probably would be an interesting exercise. Did you like Jimmy G? Do you think Mac is comparable skill and talent wise? Those that have given up on Mac are looking to replace him, and will wish for anyone but him.
Dolphin fans were doing the same to Tua as recently as last year. Two years prior it was “Tua’s just a game manager with a noodle arm, he’ll need to be surrounded by weapons to succeed.” Then last season he had weapons and was playing like an MVP candidate before getting hurt, and that changed to “He’s injury prone, availability is an ability.” We have the weapons, we just need a QB we can count on or an All-Pro line to protect Tua.
So far this season Tua is staying clean and lighting up the league. He and Mac both came from the same program and had some of the same attributes and criticisms coming out. Miami has added weapons for Tua. He’s able to get the ball out quickly which mitigates some of their protection issues and his line is keeping him clean this year. Only one sack through 3 games.
Not taking hits is a huge deal for developing quarterbacks. Mac hasn’t had that luxury yet, or the weapons. He’s not Tom Brady, and Tua isn’t Dan Marino, but Tua’s having success after getting time to play himself. Mac might just be a Chad Pennington, but it’s too early to know given the circumstances.