Mac Jones thought he could end up in San Francisco in the 2021 NFL Draft. It took him another four years to become a Niner.
On a recent episode of the “Bussin’ with the Boys” podcast, the quarterback discussed his memories of the draft, where the debate was between the 49ers selecting Jones or two-way Trey Lance.
“I remember, kind of, all the hype leading up to it, but yeah, I think everything happens for a reason,” Jones recalls. “I’m here where I am now, and I thought they’d trade up for somebody, and I knew it was one of two and I was one of the people. So if you’re a gambling man, it’s a 50-50 shot at the start.”
The Niners ultimately selected Lance after trading the No. 12 and 2022 and 2023 first picks, along with a 2022 third pick, to the Dolphins at No. 3. Jones, who fell to the Patriots at No. 15, said San Francisco could have saved its capital by waiting.
“You could have just picked me at 12,” he said with a laugh. “I don’t know if I’m worth three first round picks, but s—, sign me up.”
After a stellar rookie season in New England, things fell apart for Jones, who was eventually traded to Jacksonville in 2024. The former first-round pick said even then the Niners were trying to get him to back up Brock Purdy.
“I think even the year I got traded, they were trying to get me back to San Francisco, from the Patriots to the Jaguars,” Jones said. “So they were trying to get me to San Francisco then, but they ended up not doing it.