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The San Francisco 49ers are finally giving Mac Jones a shot to be their starting quarterback, more than four years after they were rumored to pick him in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft. They will need him to play in a few games with Brock Purdy on the shelf for multiple weeks with a toe injury.
Jones, after spending one season with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2024, signed a two-year, $7 million deal to be the No. 2 in San Francisco, replacing Josh Dobbs behind Purdy. Jones made seven starts in Jacksonville last season for an injured Trevor Lawrence, the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2021.
Jones was the No. 15 overall pick of the New England Patriots in that quarterback class. In between the first round, the New York Jets took Zach Wilson at No. 2, the 49ers traded up for Trey Lance at No. 3 and the Chicago Bears selected Justin Fields at No. 11.With the exception of Lawrence, those QBs — Jones (49ers), Wilson (Miami Dolphins) Lance (Los Angeles Chargers) and Fields (Jets) — are all on their third teams in five seasons.
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But at one point, Jones was supposed to be drafted by the 49ers to play for Kyle Shanahan more than four years ago, instead of Lance.
Here's how everything went down during the 2021 draft, after the Jaguars' then no-brainer opening selection of Lawrence:
Mac Jones NFL draft 2021 scouting report
Lawrence, with his stellar championship play at Clemson, and Fields, with his dynamic dual-threat work at Ohio State, were expected for a while to be locked at 1-2. That was before Lance tantalized with his arm and athleticism for North Dakota State and let his high potential stand despite playing only one game during the 2020 season.
As for Jones, he transformed into an elite national championship-winning college passer for Alabama in his own right, picking up where 2020 No. 1 overall pick Joe Burrow left off for LSU the season before. In the national title game, Jones lit up Ohio State for 464 yards and 5 TDs in a 52-24 rout, dominating his duel vs. Fields.
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Even though Jones benefited from being armed with Heisman Trophy-winning wide receiver DeVonta Smith, his stock shot up to being a mid-first-round pick. Jones was not catching up to Lawrence, but as a high-floor pocket passer, he was stuck behind the run-boosted ceilings of Fields and Lance.
Why did the 49ers draft Trey Lance over Mac Jones?
The 49ers, sitting at No. 12 overall ahead of the draft, had no shot at Lawrence. But they also saw the potential of grabbing Fields, Lance or Jones, depending on how picks No. 2 through No. 11 played out.
At one time, Fields was a threat to going first instead of Lawrence, but based on the pre-draft process and concerns about his mental makeup matching his physical skills, he dropped late, opening the door for Lance or Jones.
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The Jets were ready to lock into Wilson, who had a transcendent season at BYU to create a mediocre season. Lance seemed to be the right pick for the 49ers if he fell. But that wouldn't have happened for them at No. 12.
Then came the aggressive trade up nine spots with the Dolphins, who took Jones' former Alabama teammate Tua Tagovailoa No. 5 overall in the previous draft. With Fields dropping and both Lawrence and Wilson off the board, it was a lock to be for Lance.
Lance, however, was a misfit for the 49ers' offense early, with his career being derailed by a quick injury. The 49ers swung for the fences and struck out big-time. They were fortunate, however, to use the final seventh-round pick on Purdy in 2022.
Given how Jones spiked and then crashed for the Patriots before being traded to the Jaguars to make room for Drake Maye last season, he also may not have provided the post-Jimmy Garoppolo boost the 49ers needed. It's hard to say any young QB other than Purdy would have put the 49ers on the brink of winning Super Bowl 58 over Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.
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Jones' knock was his arm strength. Purdy has proved to be one of the NFL's best deep-throwing passers since he started for the 49ers late in his rookie season.
As a more seasoned young veteran, Jones has found his niche as a reliable backup. He can handle starting for stretches and executing, much like he did for the Jaguars, despite not much winning to show for it.
Jones is taking over an offense with some key receiving injuries, led by tight end George Kittle, who landed on injured reserve. The 49ers will hope they have the support system with Christian McCaffrey and others for Jones to execute the passing game at a high-enough level until Purdy can return.
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