One thing I've noticed in recent weeks and it came up again this week, there are throws teams definitely don't think he can make. The pick 6 came in part because Flores called a D where he just said 'ok, if you can fire this ball in after the jam/re-route but before the safety gets over... good for you" and instead flooded the short pattern. Now Mac also stared down his guy which didn't help, but that D was called because they just didn't think Mac could/would make that throw. BUF and IND did some similar stuff, especially early. Played man and forced everything outside basically daring Mac to fire one in and a line before the safety came over.
Mac has been way better than was reasonable to expect. For him to take the next step into a top 10 QB, they need to find a way whether strength or mechanics to put that throw in his arsenal. He's never going to be Herbert or something where he has the arm to just make literally any throw into any window from any base, but along with working on his footwork under pressure, being able to make some of those flatter throws would be huge.
Mac's struggles the past few weeks
have shown that there are throws defenses don't expect him to attempt/make, and that is a problem. But they have also shown a lot of other issues, from the physical (struggles with his mechanics, poor accuracy) to the mental: poor reads, staring guys down, occasional failure to just execute plays. The Pats offense asks a lot of a QB and it seems fair at this point to surmise that Mac has not mastered it and is not able to use all the tools the offense has in the same way a prime Brady could.
Anyway, my point is just that, OK, if he has a stringer arm he likely doesn;t throw the pick six. But also if he doesn't stare down his target, not see the DB jumping the route, and poorly locate his throw, he also doesn't throw the pick six.
He ability to approve in one dimension - arm strength - is unknown but likely very limited.
His ability to improve in other dimensions - reads, execution, accuracy, moving in the pocket, etc. - are also unknown but a lot of those are more in line with his perceived strangths as a QB.
My sole point in bringing this up is that there is a lot of room for improvement here. Nothing guaranteed but the possibilities are there, and they interact - whatever more he can squeeze out of his arm, if anything, makes the other improvements easier.
I was talking to my brother yesterday, and he is basically 100% out on Mac Jones. Too slight of build, too weak of an arm, will never be able to succeed in bad weather, football playoffs happen in January and February. I think that is very premature. But we shall see.