A year ago, the Pittsburgh Steelers had at least some interest in Sam Darnold. But the pairing never came close to happening and Darnold followed former offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak to Seattle. With a Super Bowl win in the end, a wise decision. Every quarterback-needy team is poised to look for its own Sam Darnold and Steelers beat writer Chris Adamski thinks he has the answer.
“Mac Jones is the name out there that I think would be the best one,” Adamski said on Sunday night’s No. 1 Cochran Sports Show when asked for this year’s closest version of Darnold.
Unlike Darnold, as Adamski acknowledged, the Steelers would have to trade for Jones. Under contract in San Francisco through the 2026 season, he won’t come cheap. The 49ers have publicly stated they don’t want to trade him, but that’s just good business to strike such a posture. For the right price, Jones is expendable.
The question is – what will it cost Pittsburgh? Likely a Day 2 draft pick. No small sum but for a Steelers team with a trio of third-round picks, giving up one for Jones might be worth it.
“He went 5-2,” Adamski said of Jones’ 2025 season. “He also came from the San Francisco rehab agency for quarterbacks, which is exactly what Sam Darnold did. If there’s a name out there of somebody who could ascend next year, who has a first-round pedigree, who’s kind of languished on a few extra teams, his resume at this point is very similar to Sam Donald.”
A fair and fine argument in support of Jones. He kept San Francisco afloat despite a rash of injuries until Brock Purdy was healthy enough to return. After spending 2024 in Jacksonville, Jones found traction this year. Jones finished with 13 touchdown passes and completed nearly 70 percent of his throws.
A former first round pick of the New England Patriots, Jones flashed as a rookie, finishing second in the Offensive Rookie of the Year voting and leading the Patriots to a 10-7 record. His play regressed from there, though the talent around him also diminished.
Not turning 28 until September, he could be a perfect candidate to work with new head coach Mike McCarthy. In a year with few other viable options, Jones might shine brightest. It just won’t be cheap, or easy, to pry him away from the 49ers.
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