'TNF' announcer shares bold predictions for Patriots' Mac Jones

ESPN personality and Amazon "Thursday Night Football" announcer Kirk Herbstreit is a massive believer in New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones. 

"I’m not gonna say they’re gonna be the most improved offense and he’ll be the most improved quarterback," Herbstreit explained about the Patriots and Jones during a Thursday appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show," per Lauren Campbell of MassLive. "But he’s gonna be in the top three. And without a doubt, the Patriots are gonna be among the top three most improved offenses." 

Jones reportedly impressed people within the Patriots while working under new offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien during springtime practices. He seems cemented atop the depth chart ahead of training-camp sessions following an offseason filled with rumors about the 24-year-old's alleged fractured relationship with head coach Bill Belichick. Herbstreit sounded unbothered about such rumors and suggested O’Brien will get the best out of Jones after the signal-caller endured a rough sophomore NFL season when Matt Patricia reportedly served as his play-caller.  

"You get Billy O’Brien, who is as good an offensive mind as there is to come in there and work with Mac Jones," Herbstreit said. "I’m telling you right now, you’re gonna see a drastic change in what he’s doing as a quarterback, and what the Patriots are gonna be able to do on that side of the football. ... Get ready for a much-improved Patriots season this year." 

Herbstreit added that Jones "had no chance" last season as part of an offense guided by Patricia and fellow assistant Joe Judge. According to ESPN stats, Jones ended the regular season ranked 28th out of 31 eligible players with a 36.1 adjusted QBR, and he tossed 14 touchdown passes with 11 interceptions across 14 games. 

Herbstreit noted how he first interacted with Jones back when the 2021 first-round draft pick was a star with the Alabama Crimson Tide.

"He was honestly the most impressive quarterback I’ve ever spoken to in college about what he sees and how his brain processes and how it fires," Herbstreit remarked. 

The Patriots have less than a full year to decide what they'll do about the fifth-year option attached to Jones' rookie contract. While Jones' future with the club is very much up in the air this summer, Herbstreit clearly believes New England already has a franchise quarterback on the roster. 

"I’m just telling you right now in whatever month we’re in, I’m telling you right now that Mac Jones is gonna be a Pro-Bowl-caliber quarterback in the very near future — whether it’s this year or in the next couple years," Herbstreit confidently declared. "He’s that good."