Former New England Patriots starting quarterback Mac Jones found a new home this offseason, signing with the San Francisco 49ers. With the team's recent extension of starting quarterback Brock Purdy, it is clear exactly what the former Patriots' role is with his new team. Barring any injury to Purdy, there isn't a path to Jones earning a start in the 2025 season. After spending time in Jacksonville, the quarterback didn't rebuild enough value to do anything other than sign as a backup option.
Perhaps Jones' latest comments serve as an illustration of why that is. The quarterback talked about his excitement in joining the 49ers system and how simple they make the job. Considering the offensive system, this doesn't come as a surprise but is perhaps telling of Jones' standing in the league. You can read the quarterback's thoughts below on joining the new team and how the system has helped.
"I think they do a great job explaining what the expectation of each play is and why they’re doing a certain play, and there’s nothing left up to doubt, if that makes sense. And everything’s based on timing and rhythm and also playing off structure. So, it has all three elements of quarterback play. And yeah, it’s really interesting to watch it and see how they see the game because it is the correct way to see it. And as you can tell, the quarterback play is very efficient."Mac Jones
In truth, these comments expose a lack of confidence and ability to read the field in past systems. This won't come as a surprise to New England fans who watched Jones throw one too many interceptions into obvious coverage schemes. Reading the field and reacting to it is what a quarterback's job boils down to, and Jones simply wasn't up for the task.
The excitement around joining a system that does a lot of the work for the former starter further exposes this fact. The quarterback simply wasn't cut out to be a starter at this level, and that hasn't changed since departing the Patriots. For the 49ers, it is a solid addition that offers you starting experience without having any potential quarterback drama. Jones' role on the team is clear, and you're not going to have fans clamoring for the backup if Purdy has a rough week or two.
With this in mind, it has become beyond clear that Jones is only going to have a future in this league as a backup option. The quarterback has zero chance of landing another starting job, and New England fans know exactly the reasons why.