The San Francisco 49ers famously passed on quarterback Mac Jones in the 2021 NFL Draft, opting instead to select Trey Lance with the No. 3 overall pick. Fast forward to 2025, with Lance now on another roster and 2022's Mr. Irrelevant, Brock Purdy, firmly entrenched as the franchise quarterback, the 49ers brought in Jones to serve as a backup, creating one of the league's stronger quarterback rooms.
The decision between Jones and Lance wasn't an easy one for head coach Kyle Shanahan. He later admitted that both were finalists for the 49ers' top draft choice in 2021. Jones eventually landed with the New England Patriots at No. 15 overall, spending three seasons there before a brief stint with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
CBS Sports' Cody Benjamin ranked the Jones-49ers pairing as the No. 9 backup quarterback situation entering the 2025 NFL season, citing the strong fit between Jones and Shanahan's system as a key factor.
"This is almost exclusively about the Kyle Shanahan fit," Benjamin explained. "Famously pegged a favorite of the San Francisco 49ers coach ahead of the [2021] draft (before the team pivoted to the more athletic Trey Lance with its first-round pick), Jones has yet to replicate the smooth touch of his New England Patriots debut."
Jones earned a Pro Bowl nod during his rookie campaign, throwing for a career-best 3,801 yards and 22 touchdowns. While his production dipped in subsequent seasons, Benjamin believes his skill set matches what Shanahan values in a quarterback.
"He's a stylistic match as a take-what's-given point guard, though, even if he's nowhere near as elusive as starter Brock Purdy," Benjamin added.
For those wondering who took the top spot in Benjamin's backup QB rankings, it was the Los Angeles Rams, thanks to former 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo backing up Matthew Stafford.
"He may be dependent on his system, but McVay's setup is among the game's friendliest," Benjamin wrote of Garoppolo. "L.A.'s playoff hopes wouldn't be dashed if he's called upon."
As the 49ers look to bounce back in 2025, having a proven and system-friendly quarterback like Jones behind Purdy gives San Francisco added stability at the game's most crucial position.