One of the tasks that Jerod Mayo was dealt with last offseason was determining the fate of quarterback Mac Jones, as it was clear he was not meant to be the future of the franchise. Armed with the third overall pick in the draft, the team knew they were going to get their next quarterback, so moving Jones sooner rather than later needed to happen.
Despite the belief that it would be nearly impossible to trade him after a steadily declining career since being drafted in 2021, the Patriots were able to reach a deal with the Jaguars, where Jones spent the 2024 season. After a chaotic tenure in his hometown, he then became a free agent and has since been with the 49ers in a backup role, and is reportedly impressing his new team.
Jones has made headlines since arriving in San Francisco for all the right reasons thus far, as the coaching staff continues to rave about the kind of player he is, with one even stating he still feels that the quarterback is a starter in the NFL.
But that's not where it stops. Jones is now stealing the show at training camp, which is surprising given his performance in his final year with the Patriots and lone season with the Jaguars, yet not entirely unexpected since he initially played well for both teams early on.
Mac Jones is looking good as the 49ers' backup quarterback so far, but it probably won't last long
The most telling about Jones' recent performance were comments made by offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak, who told reporters after training camp this past Tuesday. It appears the quarterback is maintaining a good impression with his new team and is picking up the 49ers' offense rather quickly.
"He's picking it up really well. He's been really impressive. Mac's a really smart guy. He got all these reps in OTAs for the first time, and now he's kind of getting the second time through it. You can see improvement."
From the start of his NFL career in 2021, Jones has earned high praise for his performances during practice. It was more about his questionable decision-making and erratic throws during games that became more of a problem as the years passed by.
He would consistently perform well at practice, only to look like an entirely different player once a game began. So, hearing that he's standing out at practice isn't exactly new for Patriots fans to hear .
That reputation hasn't concerned his new teammates so far, however, as even Kyle Juszczyk has been noticing his efforts.
"I think he's well on his way. I think he's doing a good job of picking things up. ... It is not an easy offense to just walk in here and understand everything. A lot of it is just getting in and out of the huddle, and just understanding how many calls [there are].
Formations and motions are just so big in this offense. I know that's usually where you see guys struggle early on, but I feel like he continues to get better at it. And he seems like a really cerebral, smart guy, and I'm sure he'll have a good grasp of it here very soon."
It's quite a shift from how he was perceived during his final months with the Patriots, yet not far off from the initial impression they had or the Jaguars had when he first arrived last offseason. It will be interesting to see if he can build upon the good performances he's had at training camp so far, or if we will see the decline that he showed with his previous two teams.
It would be a great signing if Jones can be a reliable backup for Brock Purdy, who was just awarded a massive contract extension earlier this offseason. Jones could fill that role for years to come, but if he reverts to his previous performances, then it's fair to assume he will be elsewhere by next year.