Brock Purdy is firmly established as the starter for San Francisco, a decision that’s unlikely to change before the 2025 season. However, Sports Illustrated writer Grant Cohn argues that the 49ers would be wise to consider adding a quarterback like Mac Jones to their roster.
“Why not? Purdy is certainly more mobile than Jones, but Jones moves well enough. Plus, he’s bigger than Purdy, has a quicker release, and throws a better deep ball,” Cohn wrote on December 4. “Jones’ presence alone could push Purdy to be at his best. And if Purdy doesn’t rebound, the 49ers would have another young, talented quarterback to develop.”
The 49ers currently have Joshua Dobbs and Brandon Allen as backups. While Dobbs impressed during his 2023 stint with the Minnesota Vikings, Jones is younger and boasts a Pro Bowl selection on his resume.
Jones Finding His Way in Jacksonville
After a rocky end to his tenure with the New England Patriots, Jones joined the Jacksonville Jaguars as a backup to Trevor Lawrence. With Lawrence dealing with shoulder and concussion issues, Jones has made seven starts this season.
His performance has been underwhelming so far, completing 62% of his passes for 562 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions, resulting in a passer rating of 70.6. However, Jones has faced challenges on one of the NFL’s weaker teams, limiting his ability to succeed.
For the 49ers’ head coach Kyle Shanahan and the front office, Jones’ early career offers some promise. As a rookie, he threw for 3,801 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions, finishing second in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting and earning a Pro Bowl nod. At just 26 years old, Jones still has time to develop, especially under a coach like Shanahan, known for maximizing quarterback potential.
Paying Brock Purdy a Priority for 49ers?
While Cohn believes better competition would benefit Purdy, The Athletic’s Mike Silver has argued the 49ers should focus on locking in their starting quarterback with an early contract extension. On a recent Athletic podcast, Silver explained why an early deal makes financial sense.
“I would say yes, and I think Kyle [Shanahan] decided that long ago. Honestly, around Christmas two years ago when Purdy was first thrown in,” Silver said of a potential Purdy extension. “This is a new world now. Instead of having a roster of highly-paid, in-their-prime All-Stars and a quarterback on the cheapest rookie deal ever, I’d urge the 49ers to figure it out quickly. Don’t let this drag out—recent history shows how that can affect teams.”
The 49ers face a big decision regarding Purdy’s contract. If they believe he’s earned a lucrative extension, moving quickly could save the team significant money in the long run.
