The New England Patriots are currently set at the quarterback position. So much so that they were able to move off 2024 sixth round pick, one-game phenom, Joe Milton III, who was traded to the Dallas Cowboys earlier in the offseason.
However, former starter in the post-Tom Brady era, Mac Jones has managed to find his way into another backup role, this time with the San Francisco 49ers, who were widely linked to drafting the Alabama product back in 2021, before ultimately deciding on Trey Lance.
Now, in a twist of fate, they have gotten cracks at both, after signing Jones to a two year, $7 million deal back in March.
New OC Gives Mac Jones Words To Hang His Hat On
And whilst Jones does not have the greatest reputation around the league as a player, particularly amongst Patriots fans, he was given a boost from new offensive coordinator, Klay Kubiak, who had some very encouraging words about Jones’ ability and potential.
“He’s got a lot of traits that we like for a starting quarterback,” Kubiak said, per ESPN’s Nick Wagoner. “His career has kind of gone up and down a little bit the past couple years, but we saw the same things in Jacksonville that we loved about him as a college prospect, and that really excites us… I think Mac’s capable of being a starter in this league.”
Whilst it is clear that Jones is not going to be the starter with the 49ers any time soon, given that the franchise just signed incumbent starter, Brock Purdy, to a five year, $265 million deal back in May, working out to an average of $53 million/year, head coach Kyle Shanahan has been a fan of Jones’ for a while.
Does Mac Jones Have A Realistic Path To Being A Starter Once Again?
This question hinges rather significantly on one’s definition of “realistic”. Jones’ strong rookie season in New England was wiped out by two subsequent years of very mediocre play that saw him benched in both seasons at different points.
The loss of offensive coordinator, Josh McDaniels, seemingly had a damaging effect on Jones’ confidence in Year 2. One that was not fixable by the time former Houston Texans head coach, Bill O’Brien, filled the position to reunite with Jones in his third year in the pros.
Jones’ lack of substantial arm strength combined with limited athletic ability does not put him in an ideal position to be recruited by another organization to become their new face of the franchise. However, Jones’ timing and – *at certain points* – ability to make capable reads helped him put the team in a good position back in his rookie season, where he took the Pats to the playoffs in a 10-7 year.
For Jones, is a Baker Mayfield/Sam Darnold-esque resurrection the likely outcome, no. Partially given the rarity of such resurrection occurring, and the fact that both Mayfield and Darnold have better athletic and physical traits than Jones.
But, with the help of QB whisperer, Shanahan, and some help with the fundamentals, it is not inconceivable that he could be bought in as a “bridge” starting QB at some point in the not so distant future for a struggling franchise.
