49ers QB depth chart: What Mac Jones signing means for Brock Purdy in contract year

Mac Jones is the latest quarterback to opt for the tutelage of 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan.

San Francisco and Jones agreed to a two-year, $7 million contract, with $5 million guaranteed, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Wednesday. The opportunity to work with Shanahan was reportedly a contributing factor in Jones’ decision to sign with the team.

Jones will look to follow in the footsteps of Sam Darnold, last year’s Sporting News Comeback Player of the Year. Darnold served as be the backup in San Francisco in 2023 before a resurgent season in Minnesota in 2024.

Brock Purdy is still the starter for the 49ers in front of Jones, and the team is aiming to negotiate an extension with him this offseason. Jones will serve as an experienced backup in case Purdy goes down with an injury, as he did at the end of 2024.

Here’s what to know about the Jones-49ers signing, plus a look at San Francisco’s new quarterback depth chart as Jones slides in behind Purdy.

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Mac Jones contract details with 49ers

Jones agreed to a two-year, $7 million contract with the 49ers, per Schefter.

The 26-year-old spent the first three seasons of his career in New England after the team drafted him No. 15 overall in 2021. He started immediately and was named a Pro Bowler as a rookie after throwing for 3801 yards and 22 touchdowns with 13 interceptions. Jones regressed in his next two seasons, and he was traded to the Jaguars in 2024 for a sixth-round pick.

Why didn’t the 49ers draft Mac Jones?

The 49ers traded up in the 2021 draft to the No. 3 overall selection to take a quarterback. While there was speculation Jones was going to be the pick, San Francisco opted for Trey Lance out of North Dakota State. Shanahan apparently fell in love with Lance as a prospect when he scouted him before the draft, and the 49ers did not want to pass up the opportunity to select him.

“His natural ability to play the quarterback position, just in terms of how he plays in the pocket, how he can go through the progressions, how, when no one’s open, that he gives it a chance. And how quick he reacts to turning it into an off-schedule play,” Shanahan said at the time, speaking with NBC Sport’s Peter King. “He plays on tape like he’s a very poised, smart person who’s been playing the position for a while.”

Lance didn’t work out in San Francisco, mainly working as the backup behind Jimmy Garoppolo in his first season and then going down with a season-ending ankle injury in his second, setting the stage for Purdy to swoop into the starting role. The 49ers traded Lance to the Cowboys ahead of the 2023 season.

49ers QB depth chart

Purdy is still the clear No. 1 in San Francisco after leading San Francisco to the Super Bowl just two years ago. While he had a down year in 2024, the 49ers are still trying to negotiate an extension with him this offseason to make him their franchise quarterback.

Jones will be the backup to Purdy, as he was to Trevor Lawrence in Jacksonville. He has flashed his potential, especially in his rookie season in New England, but has not shown enough consistency to be trusted as a starter at this point. A year or two learning from Shanahan could help him make strides towards becoming a starter again.

Mac Jones stats

Here’s a closer look at Mac Jones’ career stats:

  * denotes Pro Bowl selection

Brock Purdy stats

Here’s a closer look at Brock Purdy’s career stats:

  * denotes Pro Bowl selection