In the weeks before the 2021 NFL Draft, it wasn’t hard to find a mock draft that projected the San Francisco 49ers to pick Alabama quarterback Mac Jones at No. 3.
But the 49ers chose North Dakota State quarterback Trey Lance instead.
Four years later, Jones has made it to San Francisco. But before he could sign with the 49ers as an NFL free agent this offseason, did he have to settle a grudge with San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan from being passed over in 2021?
“We had a huge fight,” Jones said. “I’m just kidding. We were cool. Kyle and I texted a little bit. And once again, I always love watching their tape. You know, when you look at stats around the league, they’re always in the top five. You see the little San Francisco logo, so I always love watching what Kyle did throughout the years.
“And to finally get in and learn it, it’s been a little bit challenging, but also a great challenge because it’s things, some things I’ve done and some things I haven’t done at all, and that’s interesting being my fifth year in the league, learning different footwork and timing and how he sees the game, so it’s all going to come together here. …
“Honestly, it’s crazy to think that I’m going into my fifth year. And time flies, right? So going into the draft seems like a long time ago, and I got a chance to meet with a lot of great coaches during that process, this place being one of them. And, obviously, the world works in mysterious ways, so I’m glad to be back here and learning from a great group of guys -- and that’s players and coaches. So, you know, you go where you go in the draft, right? You don’t get a lot of choice over that, but I’m definitely excited to be here now.”
The New England Patriots picked Jones at No. 15 in the 2021 draft. Jones started all 42 games that he played for the Patriots. He led a playoff squad and went to the Pro Bowl as a rookie. But New England’s record in Jones’ starts in 2022 and 2023 was 8-17, and he was benched with six games remaining in the 2023 campaign before being traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars last offseason.
“I think just for me just acknowledging what I could have done better, always looking inward and, obviously, learning from some great people along the way,” Jones said of his NFL career, “and then taking those scars and kind of brushing them off and using them as power because I think at some point those are going to help me -- they have helped me -- whether that’s here or in practice or maybe in a game in the future. That’s what I’m looking forward to is you may not think about a specific instance, but that will make you stronger in the long run. And like I said, I’m putting my new foot forward and trying to learn from a great organization.”
In 2023, the No. 3 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft signed with the 49ers after starting six games for the Carolina Panthers in 2022. Sam Darnold backed up Brock Prudy at quarterback all the way to the Super Bowl in his season with San Francisco. Darnold signed with the Minnesota Vikings for 2024, had a Pro Bowl season and is slated to start for the Seattle Seahawks in 2025.
Jones said he took notice of Darnold’s turnaround after working as a backup in Jacksonville in 2024, although he started seven games because of injuries to Trevor Lawrence.
“Multiple quarterbacks have played in this system really well,” Jones said on Wednesday. “And that’s the enticing part about it. And, obviously, I’m going to be my own person, and my goal is to be ready when I have to play or if that comes up. And that’s all you can do is put your best foot forward every day and learn from every rep you get and every rep you don’t get.”
Jones said San Francisco had been a “really enticing place for me, seeing the production that the quarterbacks put out throughout the years in Kyle’s offense.”
“I think they do a great job explaining what the expectation of each play is and why they’re doing a certain play,” Jones said. “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.”
The final player picked in the 2022 NFL Draft, Purdy ascended to starter as a rookie because of injuries. He started seven consecutive victories until the Philadelphia Eagles ended San Francisco’s season in the NFC Championship Game. The 49ers signed Purdy to a five-year, $265 million contract this offseason after this second full season as the starter.
Jones knew Purdy even before he became Mr. Irrelevant.
“He came to Alabama on an official visit one of those years,” Jones said, “and we got to hang out, eat dinner and then go back and play video games at my apartment, so we always talk about that and how crazy the world works. I mean, his story is so cool to me. Just going where he went in the draft and then just working his butt off and getting what he deserves. I think that’s something that anybody can look at and be like, ‘Wow, that was impressive.’
“And his just will to do everything the right way is something that stuck out to me. And like I said, I’m looking forward to working with him. Obviously, early in this working relationship, but everything’s been going really smooth.”
Purdy went to Iowa State instead of Alabama. Jones went from backing up Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa to pacing the Crimson Tide to an undefeated record and the CFP national championship for the 2020 season.
“I was third string and just trying to learn something and taking notes every day,” Jones said. “But coach (Nick) Saban’s just so attention-to-detail-oriented and that’s something that I’ll take with me forever and that’s the type of person I am. I’m excited to learn from the guys here because I feel like they’re that way as well and I see a lot of similarities in the way the programs are run, so I’m excited to try and do everything they ask me to do correctly the way they want it done and almost be like a rookie in that sense where I’m learning everything I can and trying to apply it to the field, and, obviously, remembering my past, but also moving forward into a new system.”
The 49ers will conclude their offseason program with mandatory minicamp on Tuesday and Wednesday. After the summer break, San Francisco will gather for training camp in late July.
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at@AMarkG1.