Former first-round quarterback Mac Jones will play for a third team after finishing out his rookie deal in Jacksonville. Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Jones is headed to San Francisco, where he will serve as the 49ers’ backup quarterback behind Brock Purdy. Jones joins the team on a two-year, $7MM deal that includes $5MM guaranteed and could be worth up to $11.5MM with incentives. 
After being drafted 15th overall out of Alabama by the Patriots in 2021, Jones hit the ground running, starting every game as a rookie. He led New England to the playoffs with a 10-7 record, throwing for 3,801 passing yards for 22 touchdowns and 13 interceptions, earning himself a Pro Bowl bid and projecting ample hope for Patriots fans about their long-term future.
Unfortunately, that success didn’t last. In the 14 starts of his sophomore campaign, Jones failed to reach 3,000 passing yards while going 6-8 and throwing only 14 touchdowns to 11 interceptions. In his third season (and with his third offensive coordinator), Jones and the Patriots started the season 2-9 before he ultimately got benched for Bailey Zappe. In those 11 starts, he threw only 10 touchdowns to 12 interceptions.
Last year saw Jones traded to Jacksonville for the 2024 campaign, where he would officially start the year as a backup to Trevor Lawrence. When Lawrence went down with an AC joint sprain, Jones was relied upon as the starter for the remainder of the season. In those eight games down the back half of the season, the Jaguars went 2-6 as Jones threw for 1,672 yards and eight touchdowns with eight interceptions.
In San Francisco, Jones will be QB2 once again. The 49ers saw the contracts of both Joshua Dobbs and Brandon Allen expire this offseason, with Dobbs actually signing to Jones’ former team in New England. Purdy had been fairly consistent health-wise in his first two seasons, but he did miss two games last year.
In any case, the 49ers continue to do well in putting extremely capable backup behind Purdy in case of disaster. It’s actually quite interesting to see Jones join up with head coach Kyle Shanahan as there were reports back in 2021 that Jones was the preferred option of Shanahan over Trey Lance, whom the team drafted third overall that year.
I am whelmed
Wonder what this guy would’ve become if the Niners had drafted him instead of Lance
As a pats fan, me too lol
The question is would they have drafted Purdy? And likely answer is they wouldn’t have.
Why wouldn’t they? It’s over 250 picks later. It also wouldn’t change any of their picks
The perfect landing spot for him.
Watch him ball out in preseason lmao
There were rumblings at the time that Shanahan wanted him and not Lance. I don’t think Jones could be an elite quarterback, but I also think he could maybe be a decent starter in the right hands, as opposed to Matt Patricia cosplaying as an offensive coordinator.
Bill’s worst decision of all time next to not playing Malcom against the eagles.
Bad, but not worse than benching Malcom Butler in a very winable Super Bowl.
Don’t forget the amazing influence of Clown Show Joe Judge.
… imagine the discourse if they don’t extend Purdy and say they want to see the starting QB earn it during the preseason
Perfect backup for the niners, first good move they’ve made so far
Brady left and Belichick went into full panic mode.
He had no interest in developing a young QB. He was in a win now mode to prove to everyone he could win without Brady. He was so desperate that he had to bring in Cam Newton lol.