NFL Exec Not 'Optimistic' Mac Jones Will Revive Career with 49ers Like Sam Darnold Did

Even though the San Francisco 49ers finally got Mac Jones four years after they were rumored to be strongly interested in him leading up to the 2021 NFL draft, there's not a lot of hope around the league that he will experience a career resurrection in the Bay Area.

One NFL executive told The Athletic's Mike Sando they are "not as optimistic" about Jones reviving his career in the way someone like Sam Darnold did when he was a backup in San Francisco.

"I’m not as optimistic because he has less of an arm, and he’s a lesser athlete," the exec said. "I can see how Jimmy Garoppolo had success there because he’s quick with the ball. Mac Jones is a little bit lesser of a player than those guys, in my opinion, but it could still help him going there."

Few head coaches in the NFL are as good at maximizing their quarterbacks and putting them in ideal situations to succeed as Kyle Shanahan. Nick Mullens, who played for the 49ers from 2018 to '20, has the fifth-most passing yards by a quarterback in their first 16 career starts in NFL history.

Jones' career got off to a good start when he led the New England Patriots to the playoffs as a rookie in 2021. He threw for 3,801 yards, 22 touchdowns and completed 67.6 percent of his attempts.

Things quickly fell apart for Jones in New England after that. He had 24 touchdowns and 23 interceptions in 25 starts over the next two seasons. The Patriots traded him to the Jacksonville Jaguars in March 2024 where he served as Trevor Lawrence's backup.

The 49ers were in the market for a backup this offseason after losing Joshua Dobbs in free agency. Jones, who Shanahan admitted was in strong consideration for the No. 3 pick in the 2021 draft, was their answer when he signed a two-year contract on March 14.

Darnold, who was San Francisco's backup in 2023, was regarded as a higher-level prospect than Jones when he was coming out of USC. His arm strength and touch were cited as positive attributes.

Jones, on the other hand, was known to have limited arm strength and had a tendency to pre-determine where he was going with the ball before the snap.

Darnold's stock was extremely low by the time he got to the 49ers. He only made one start for them at the end of the 2023 regular season when they were resting starters after securing their playoff position early.

The Minnesota Vikings saw enough from Darnold to trust him as a potential bridge quarterback in 2024. He wound up being their starter last season after J.J. McCarthy suffered a torn meniscus in the preseason.

Darnold had a career year in Minnesota, throwing for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns. He parlayed that success into a three-year, $100.5 million contract with the Seattle Seahawks.

That was also an ideal environment for a quarterback because the Vikings have Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson catching passes, plus head coach Kevin O'Connell calling plays.

The 49ers are entering a transition period after losing several key players in free agency, so this situation for Jones isn't nearly as friendly as what Minnesota offered Darnold in 2024.

There's also the question of how much playing time Jones will actually get. Brock Purdy is entrenched as the starter and has only missed two games due to injuries since taking over in Week 13 of the 2022 season.

If nothing else, though, Jones now gets to work alongside the best NFL head coach he has ever had when it comes to quarterback development. Maybe this will help him unlock something that he hasn't shown so far in his career.