The Jacksonville Jaguars raised eyebrows when they traded for Mac Jones in 2024. Sure, they needed a reliable backup behind Trevor Lawrence, but why didn't they go after a veteran in free agency instead of giving up a draft pick for a player who was entering a contract season?
Then again, it wouldn't have mattered if Jones came through when called up. He didn't and instead struggled when thrust into action. Looking back, though, it may not have been his fault.
Why did the Jaguars let Mac Jones walk in free agency?
Mac Jones was underwhelming with the Jaguars, completing 65.3 percent of his throws for 1,672 yards with eight touchdowns and three interceptions. On top of that, his 54 percent rate of incompletions in the red zone due to inaccurate passes was tied for the second-worst in the NFL. Simply, his stint in Duval didn't go the way the team's brass expected, so nobody batted an eye when he left in free agency.
It didn't take Jones too much time to find a home, though. He landed with the 49ers, a team that showed interest in him in the 2021 draft before it drafted Trey Lance third overall.
All things considered, the Niners were an ideal spot for the Jacksonville native. After all, they already had an established quarterback in Brock Purdy, so he could work on his craft without the pressure to deliver. That said, the backup quarterback is always one injury away from playing, and Jones has proved this season just how true the saying is.
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How has ex-Jaguars QB Mac Jones fared with the 49ers?
Brock Purdy has missed three games due to injuries, and Mac Jones has played well in his absence, completing 66.7 percent of his throws with six touchdowns and one interception for a quarterback rating of 66.9.
The Alabama product was particularly sharp against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 6, going 33-of-49 for 342 yards with two touchdowns. He did it despite the fact that he was without receivers Ricky Pearsall and Jauan Jennings. Heck, Jones has played so well that there's chatter in San Francisco that a potential quarterback controversy is brewing. This begs the question, why didn't he pan out in Jacksonville?
The offensive line wasn't great, and Trevor Lawrence also struggled when he played. Moreover, Jones developed a good rapport with wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. It's also worth noting that he had fared well as a rookie when he had Josh McDaniels as his offensive coordinator with the New England Patriots, so he's far from a one-year wonder.
On the other hand, the Jags offense couldn't put points on the scoreboard, and the defense couldn't stop opponents from reaching the end zone under Doug Pederson. With Liam Coen taking the reins, though, they're 3-1 to start the season with many of the same players. This, along with Jones' recent success with the 49ers, makes you think that his struggles last year were a direct result of being stuck with a bad Jaguars team.
The good news is that Jones is rebuilding his stock while the Jaguars are trending in the right direction, so their split appears to have been beneficial in retrospect.