Many teams in search of quarterback help who have struggled to find a franchise player in the NFL draft may be looking for their next Sam Darnold. Darnold went from being viewed as a potential bust to winning a Super Bowl eight years later, and a former New England Patriot could be the next quarterback to revitalize their career.
According to NFL.com's Jeffri Chadiha, Mac Jones, who is currently the backup quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, has the potential to go from [being seen as a possible](https://www.nfl.com/news/the-next-sam-darnold-five-nfl-qbs-who-are-ready-to-reinvent-their-careers) bust to becoming one of the top quarterbacks in the league.
"It might be surprising to see Jones so high on a list like this, but this exercise also isn't limited to this coming season," Chadiah wrote on Tuesday. "Jones will spend this year as Brock Purdy's backup once again. His contract expires after that, and there will be a real market for his services, given what he's already shown in San Francisco.
"He started eight games in 2025 when a toe injury sidelined Purdy. The 49ers went 5-3 in those contests, with Jones completing 69.6 percent of his passes for 2,151 yards, 13 touchdowns and six interceptions. Jones was most impressive in a 26-23 overtime win over the Los Angeles Rams, when he threw for 342 yards and two touchdowns."
It's a bit surprising that the 49ers didn't trade Jones during the offseason after the exceptional season he had in 2025. However, with only a year left on his contract and San Francisco positioned to make a Super Bowl run, having Jones on the roster for a handful of games could prove to be more valuable than simply acquiring a second-round pick.
Jones will likely have to wait until 2027 to become a starting quarterback and regain his status as the No. 1 signal-caller in the NFL. It will be interesting to see how he performs when given the chance to lead the team.
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