Mac Jones

Career StatsC+

Year	Team	GP	Yards	TD	INT	RTG
Career		63	12,741	67	50	86.9
2025		11	2,151	13	6	97.4
2024		10	1,672	8	8	80.5

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

Among QB contracts at this AAV tier, Mac Jones grades a C+ Contract Value Index (CVI). At $4.2M annually on a two-year rookie deal, Jones occupies that pragmatic middle ground where the 49ers have structured compensation to reflect his role as a capable backup with legitimate contingency value—cheap enough to carry minimal cap burden, yet expensive enough to signal organizational confidence in his presence. His performance grade of C+ aligns with the limited production from the 2025 season (1 tackle across 11 games), a stat line that underscores his depth-chart positioning rather than any meaningful on-field contribution; the real value here lies in his experience as a five-year veteran and starting passer with NFL durability. The CVI verdict reflects how quarterback markets stratify: Jones's $4.2M sits well below franchise-caliber starter territory, fitting squarely into the solid backup archetype where teams pay for experience and organizational stability rather than elite production. Media framing emphasizes his professional reputation and system fit under Kyle Shanahan, qualities that justify moderate compensation without demanding elite-tier money, and the recent roster-bonus adjustment signals the 49ers view him as worth retaining despite active trade discussions. At 27 years old with five seasons logged, Jones represents low-risk depth insurance—a two-year commitment that carries minimal dead-cap exposure and allows San Francisco flexibility to pivot if the trade market produces meaningful return or on-field circumstances shift.

Contracts in the Same Value Band

Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the C band — a quick read on where Mac's contract sits relative to comparable money.

Performance Analysis

Mac Jones's tape and counting stats together earn a C+ performance grade. At 27 years old and in his fifth NFL season, Jones occupies that challenging middle tier where he's competent enough to draw trade interest but not dynamic enough to warrant consensus starting consideration—a journeyman quarterback with a career passer rating of 86.85 who has settled into a backup role without shame or urgency. His 2025 season production reflects limited opportunities in a reserve capacity: 1 tackle across 11 games indicates he was largely on the sideline, preserving him for spot duty rather than meaningful volume. The primary weakness is the absence of impressive volume statistics that would signal explosive performance or high-stakes decision-making; his role has been deliberately constrained to situational snaps, which constrains any upside narrative. What saves Jones from a lower grade is durability—he stayed healthy across those 11 games—and the fact that his supporting infrastructure (Kyle Shanahan's system, a professional organizational culture) has genuinely rehabilitated his reputation after a turbulent New England tenure. The B- sentiment grade and media framing as "the best backup in the NFL" speak to a player who has found stable professional footing and legitimate trade currency, even if his ceiling as a starting quarterback remains modest by elite standards. Heading into 2026, Jones represents the prototype of a capable veteran depth piece: valuable enough to keep around, marketable enough to field trade calls, but ultimately defined by ceiling limitations rather than untapped potential.

How Mac Compares at the Position

Mac Jones ranks 37th of 106 graded quarterbacks by performance. That slots Mac between Tyler Shough (C+) just ahead and Jalen Milroe (C+) just behind.

Current Sentiment

Mac Jones enters 2026 with a B- sentiment grade that perfectly captures the NFL's collective shrug regarding his future in San Francisco. The media narrative around the veteran quarterback reflects organizational uncertainty rather than any definitive judgment on his capabilities, with the 49ers reportedly setting an "astronomical" asking price for trades while simultaneously acknowledging such deals "may not happen." At 86.85 career passer rating across five seasons, Jones has settled into the journeyman starter archetype—competent enough to generate trade interest but not dynamic enough to create urgency from acquiring teams. Coverage emphasizes his positive locker room presence and alignment with Kyle Shanahan's offensive philosophy, providing character credibility without performance momentum. The lukewarm market response speaks to Jones occupying that challenging middle tier where he's neither celebrated as a franchise solution nor dismissed as replacement-level, creating the type of rational, wait-and-see approach that defines solid backup quarterbacks. His B- grade reflects this pragmatic reality: a capable NFL quarterback stuck in professional purgatory, valued enough to command significant compensation but not essential enough to generate passionate support from fans or aggressive pursuit from rival franchises.