Klay Kubiak isn't just coaching Mac Jones—he's betting on him. As the San Francisco 49ers opened rookie minicamp on Thursday, the new offensive coordinator didn't hesitate to voice his belief in the former first-round pick. Speaking to reporters, Kubiak praised Jones' potential, making it clear that San Francisco sees more than just a backup in the ex-New England Patriot. Inside the building, there's confidence that Jones has what it takes to be a starting quarterback in the NFL. The 49ers may not be shopping for a starter at that position, but both Kubiak and Head Coach Kyle Shanahan can rest easy knowing they've got a backup in Jones who's more than capable of stepping in and winning games if his number's called.
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And they should know what they have in Jones. They've been interested in him for a while.
"Going back to college, we obviously studied Mac coming out, and we thought very highly of him, and his skill set as a thrower, and the things he did in college," Kubiak said. Back in 2021, the 49ers made a big move when they traded up to the number three overall pick, fueling speculation that Jones was their target. Instead, they rolled the dice on Trey Lance, naming him the quarterback of the future. But that future never came. Lance lost the job to Brock Purdy and was shipped to Dallas before the start of the 2023 season.
San Francisco liked Jones then. And judging by the tone around the facility, they still do.
"And then, obviously, as a rookie, what he did in the NFL was very impressive," Kubiak added. "Mac's a really good thrower. He stands in the pocket, he's a strong guy, and he's really smart. And so, he's got a lot of traits that we like for a starting quarterback, and 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."
In 2023, the 49ers took a flier on another former first-rounder in need of a reboot: Sam Darnold. One season in Shanahan's system was all it took to revive his stock. Darnold turned his stint in San Francisco into a starting job with the Vikings in 2024, and this offseason, landed a deal with division rival Seattle.
Now the question looms: Can Jones follow the same blueprint? The former Patriots starter inked a two-year deal with the 49ers. Now he's hoping the Bay Area can be his springboard back to QB1 status.
"He's doing a great job, and I think Mac's capable of being a starter in this league," Kubiak said. "And so, he's going to help us if he needs to."
In four NFL seasons and 52 appearances, Jones has completed 65.9% of his passes for 10,590 yards, tossing 54 touchdowns and 44 interceptions. After a promising rookie year that earned him a Pro Bowl nod, his production dipped. But Jones hasn't lost faith. He believes in what the 49ers are building. And based on what we've heard from Kubiak and company, the feeling appears to be mutual.