Is Alabama's Mac Jones a legit prospect for the 2021 NFL draft? Kiper & McShay debate, plus pick Pac-12 players to watch

Alabama is off to another tremendous start in the 2020 college football season, sitting at 6-0 after its fifth 40-plus-point outburst. The offense is loaded with playmakers, but the excellent performance by quarterback Mac Jones so far can't be overstated.

The redshirt junior has 16 touchdown throws to just two picks, is completing 78.5% of his passes and has three games with more than 400 yards through the air. Jones is in the Heisman conversation as the leader of the country's most potent offense. But what are his pro prospects? Is there real 2021 NFL draft intrigue?

NFL draft analysts Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay break down Jones' current NFL stock and why he could be climbing draft boards if he keeps playing this well. Then they name some top prospects to watch as the Pac-12 kicks off this weekend, pick out big risers in the draft class and highlight an under-the-radar prospect to keep an eye on throughout the rest of the season. Let's start with Jones' NFL potential.

Jump to:
Jones' NFL future | Pac-12 prospects to watch
Draft risers | Under-the radar players

Evaluating Mac Jones' NFL future, and how he has improved

Kiper: When Jones took over for the Crimson Tide after Tua Tagovailoa's injury last season, he was solid, not spectacular. He threw two interceptions in Bama's regular-season finale loss to Auburn, but he finished the season with 327 yards, three touchdown passes and no interceptions in the Citrus Bowl victory over Michigan. Still, there was some talk that Jones would struggle to keep the starting job with five-star freshman Bryce Young coming in, right, Todd?

McShay: Yeah, Alabama offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian actually told our ESPN crew before Alabama's 41-0 win against Mississippi State on Saturday that a lot of people in the program thought Young would be the 2020 starter for the Crimson Tide. But Jones simply refused to give up the job with his play. He completed 75% of his passes and threw a pair of touchdowns in the team's opening game against Missouri, and it was off the races from there. He's a grinder with a great work ethic.

Kiper: Jones has been great this season, ranking in the top five in several categories, including yards per attempt (12.4, first), Total QBR (95.5, second), passing first downs (96, second), completion percentage (78.5%, third) and passing yards (2,196, fourth). What has impressed me most is his ability and willingness to throw down the field -- he's not dinking and dunking. The 6-foot-3, 214-pound signal-caller is taking shots with accuracy.

McShay: I really like the touch, ball placement and trajectory on those vertical shots -- he gives his wide receivers a chance to make plays. So it's no surprise that his 17 completions on throws at least 30 yards downfield lead the FBS and that he has gone 4-for-5 on attempts 40-plus yards in the air. Jones' anticipation as a passer is really impressive, too. He shows the ability to lead receivers and throw them open, which has helped produce 176 yards after the catch per game this year (fourth among FBS quarterbacks with at least six games). But we can't give him sole credit for all that post-catch production.

Kiper: Right, the thing we haven't mentioned is whom Jones is playing with. He has NFL talent all around him, including at wide receiver, where DeVonta Smith had another four-touchdown day on Saturday. He gets a boost from that elite talent, sure, but he consistently makes pro-level throws. The things he's doing translate to the next level. He has also shown some ability to maneuver in the pocket and make quick decisions. That's crucial.

McShay: He just processes everything so quickly and has really fast eyes in getting through progressions, especially considering he has only 10 starts over two seasons. It's evident that he is in total command of that offense. Sarkisian told us that Jones "wants to know the why" in everything that happens on the football field, and he likened him to Atlanta Falcons QB Matt Ryan in that regard. In the pocket, he has poise and toughness. He isn't a dangerous runner -- he has one scramble for 10 or more yards this season -- but Jones certainly has a good feel for how to extend plays all while keeping his eyes downfield. His 64.1 QBR under pressure is fourth-best in the nation.

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Mac Jones connects with DeVonta Smith for 35-yard TD

Mac Jones throws to DeVonta Smith for a 35-yard Alabama touchdown vs. Mississippi State.

Kiper: OK, so where would you rank him in the 2021 class, Todd?

McShay: Jones is a big-time riser in this class, but we shouldn't confuse him for Joe Burrow, who went from fringe NFL prospect to No. 1 pick in the matter of a year. He's not at that level. If Jones continues on this trajectory, though, it wouldn't surprise me if he is selected in the first two rounds next April. Clemson's Trevor Lawrence, Ohio State's Justin Fields and North Dakota State's Trey Lance are looking like the unanimous top three in the class, and I'd slide BYU's Zach Wilson in right behind them, putting Jones at No. 5 on my board.

Kiper: Yeah, he's right there for me. When I ranked the top quarterbacks last month, I had Florida's Kyle Trask at No. 4 and Wilson at No. 5, and Jones could leap them if he keeps playing like this. How could he not? Still, he has started only 10 games so far, and if Bama makes it to the national title game, he'll have started 17 career games. That's not the ideal sample NFL scouts want to see. Any worries there, Todd?

McShay: Well, he's a fourth-year junior, so it's still possible Jones returns to Tuscaloosa next fall for his senior season. And like you mentioned, Mel, Alabama could lose a lot of talent from its offense to the NFL heading into next year, including receivers Smith and Jaylen Waddle (out for the season), running backs Najee Harris and Brian Robinson Jr. and offensive linemen Alex Leatherwood, Deonte Brown and Landon Dickerson.

Pac-12 prospects to watch

The Pac-12 kicks off its season this weekend, and here's who we're keeping a close eye on. It should be noted that Oregon OT Penei Sewell, Oregon S Jevon Holland. Stanford CB Paulson Adebo and Washington DE Joe Tryon opted out of play but are all top draft prospects for 2021.

Frank Darby, WR, Arizona State

First game: at USC, Saturday (noon ET, Fox)

Can Darby emerge as a legit No. 1 wideout? Arizona State has had first-round receivers the past two years -- N'Keal Harry in 2019, Brandon Aiyuk in 2020 -- and Darby has been the Sun Devils' deep threat, averaging 20 yards per catch with 52 catches and 10 touchdowns in that time frame. He has some explosive-play ability and is stellar at tracking the ball in the air, but Darby needs to become more than just a deep-ball specialist to move up draft boards. I want to see improved intermediate routes. He's going to get a lot more targets this season -- and he has a good, young quarterback throwing to him in Jayden Daniels -- starting with the Trojans this weekend. -- Kiper

Jay Tufele, DT, USC

First game: vs. Arizona State, Saturday (noon ET, Fox)

With Sewell, Holland and Paulson all opting out of the 2020 season, Tufele is my top-ranked Pac-12 player for the upcoming draft who is actually suiting up this year (No. 35 overall). The 6-foot-3, 305-pound defensive tackle shoots his hands inside and stacks blockers. He can fight through double-teams, slip blocks and push the pocket. I think there's room to develop as a hands fighter, but he is a strong run stuffer in the middle of that USC front seven. Tufele had 4.5 sacks and 42 tackles last season, and he will look to get after Sun Devils QB Jayden Daniels on Saturday. -- McShay

Demetric Felton, RB/WR/KR, UCLA

First game: at Colorado, Saturday (7 p.m. ET, ESPN2)

Felton is fun to watch. At 5-foot-9, 200 pounds, he's not build like a wide receiver, but he had 55 catches for 594 yards and four touchdowns last season. Coach Chip Kelly & Co. used Felton as a versatile weapon -- he also had 86 carries and returned kickoffs. Felton is electric in the open field and is strong for his size; cornerbacks have a tough time bringing him down. With Joshua Kelley gone to the NFL, I expect Felton to get more carries this season, but his NFL future could be as a third-down back with plus pass-catching skills. -- Kiper

Alijah Vera-Tucker, G, USC

First game: vs. Arizona State, Saturday (noon ET, Fox)

Vera-Tucker started 13 games at left guard last season and has the tools to develop into an NFL starter early in his career. My No. 38 prospect and third-ranked guard, he has a good feel for angles in zone blocking schemes and the strength to drive blockers off the ball. At 6-foot-4 and 315 pounds, Vera-Tucker does get a little top-heavy at times, but he anchors well and gets his hands inside. -- McShay

Camryn Bynum, CB; Kuony Deng, LB, Cal

First game: vs. Washington, Saturday (10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)

I'll give you two defenders from Cal because I'm excited to see them. Bynum (6-foot, 200 pounds) has already started 38 games for the Golden Bears, and he has five career interceptions. He'll be their lead corner this season. Can he take the next step and become a lockdown guy? He could be a Day 2 pick in April. Deng, who had 120 tackles last season, his first at Cal after transferring from Independence Community College, takes over as the lead linebacker after Evan Weaver went to the NFL. At 6-foot-6, 250 pounds, Deng has great size, and his ability to cover tight ends and running backs out of the backfield makes him an intriguing prospect. He had eight pass breakups last season. He's likely a Day 3 pick right now, but he could rise. -- Kiper

Prospects on the rise

These are the 2021 NFL draft prospects moving up boards.

Joseph Ossai, DE/OLB, Texas

How impressive was Ossai in Saturday's win over Oklahoma State? Not only did he end the game with a walk-off overtime sack, but he finished with three sacks, 12 tackles (six total tackles for loss) and a forced fumble. He was dominant off the edge. At 6-foot-4, 255 pounds, Ossai has long arms and ideal size to be an outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense at the next level. The junior is a game-wrecker who has some versatility to drop back in coverage when needed -- he had two interceptions last season. Still, it's Ossai's upside as a pass-rusher that will have him on my next Big Board of the top 25 prospects in this 2021 class. -- Kiper

.@joseph_ossai is a BEAST! pic.twitter.com/i0kjWDEkta

— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) November 1, 2020

Zach Wilson, QB, BYU

Wilson has played so well in the early-going that he is currently my No. 4 quarterback prospect for the 2021 class. In seven games, he has 2,152 passing yards, 19 touchdowns and just two interceptions, along with another seven scores on the ground. I love his competitiveness and toughness in the pocket, and Wilson has a high-end ability to extend plays. His deep-ball accuracy is also outstanding, as his 73.3% completion percentage on throws 30-plus yards downfield trails only Mac Jones among signal-callers with at least 10 such attempts in the FBS. Wilson has taken his game to another level this season, and I wouldn't be shocked to see him sneak into first-round consideration. -- McShay

Tylan Wallace, WR, Oklahoma State

If it weren't for Ossai's performance on Saturday, Wallace would be what everyone is talking about from that game, as the senior wideout had 11 receptions for 187 yards and two touchdowns. He just plucks the ball out of the air for acrobatic catches, winning in contested situations. He also runs crisp routes. In 2018, Wallace was a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, as he caught 86 passes for 1,491 yards and 12 touchdowns. He was on his way to a stellar 2019 season before he tore his ACL almost exactly a year ago. Wallace (6-foot, 190 pounds) decided to return to Oklahoma State for his final season, and he looks like he hasn't lost a step. This is another deep class of wide receivers in 2021, but expect Wallace to be in the mix for the top 50 picks. -- Kiper

Under-the-radar prospects you should know

Keep an eye on these potential Day 2 or Day 3 picks.

Tarron Jackson, DE, Coastal Carolina

How about those 6-0 Chanticleers? They're coming off an impressive 51-0 win over Georgia State -- they were favored by only 3.5 points -- and Jackson is their best defensive prospect. The 6-foot-2, 260-pound fifth-year senior has improved every year he has been in the program. He had 10 sacks last season and is up to 3.5 this season, along with two forced fumbles. What impressed me about Jackson on Saturday was a fourth-and-1 run stuff in which he ran down the line of scrimmage to make the play. He competes on every snap. Jackson could be a late-round steal in the draft. -- Kiper

Jake Funk, RB, Maryland

Funk was a key part of Maryland's overtime win against Minnesota on Friday, rushing 21 times for 216 yards and a score and catching three passes for another 22 yards and an additional TD. Those 216 rushing yards are the second-most in a single game for the entire FBS this season (Ulysses Bentley IV, 227). Funk doesn't have breakaway speed, but the 5-foot-10, 205-pounder is slippery in the open field and tough to stop between the tackles. He appears to be a three-down player who has hands in the passing game and is an above-average blocker. There are some injury concerns -- he tore the ACL in his left knee in back-to-back seasons -- but if Funk checks out medically, he has the chance to be a solid No. 2 or 3 back in the NFL with special-teams impact. He potentially has some mid- to late-round value. -- McShay