The New England Patriots underwent a makeover on the offensive line this offseason. The organization lost pieces such as Shaq Mason and Ted Karras via both trades and free agency. They also added a piece to the line: guard Cole Strange. The Patriots drafted him in the first round at 29th overall.
The turnover on the offensive line could impact quarterback Mac Jones. However, a certain statistic is a promising sign as he heads into his second season.
Pro Football Focus ranked the quarterbacks who were most affected by pressure on Friday. Jones fell between Taylor Heinicke and Patrick Mahomes with an 84.5 grade. That was good enough for 23rd in the NFL — a solid place to sit after Jones’ rookie season.
PFF’s Bryant Horn wrote his thinking behind this ranking:
“Like Heinicke, Jones’ pressure performance was around average for the group. He went 66-for-123 with 730 yards, six touchdowns and four picks. His 40 first downs were slightly on the low end, but he tallied just six turnover-worthy plays, which was tied for the second-fewest.”
It will be intriguing to see where he ends up in the rankings for next season. As the Patriots look to install a new offensive system, those numbers may change by the end of the season.
