In a move that has fans buzzing from the Bay Area to the East Coast, Mac Jones has penned a two-year, $7.5 million contract with the San Francisco 49ers. Now back in the fold under the keen footballing eye of Kyle Shanahan, a man rumored to have once been enamored with Jones’ potential back in the 2021 NFL Draft, Jones begins a new venture from the ever-volatile backup position. This transition presents significant questions about the ripple effect on both the 49ers’ quarterback depth chart and the market of Jones’ memorabilia.
For those who have been keeping tabs on Shanahan’s previous quarterback choices, this union has a somber resonance. Jones was instead overlooked back in 2021 when the 49ers were third on the clock during the NFL Draft, with the team opting for Trey Lance. The water has flowed a long way under the Golden Gate Bridge since then: Lance has been shipped off to Dallas, Brock Purdy has stepped up to lead the 49ers to the Super Bowl, and Jones has now entered the 49ers camp with the hopes of adding his name to the list of quarterback legends.
Though Brock Purdy holds the reins as the current leading quarterback, Jones is entering a storied and intriguing quarterback land in San Francisco. His role as the backup doesn’t diminish the potential for change—a truth well-understood in the ever-shifting landscape of the NFL. Whether through strategic rotation or due to the unpredictability of injuries and contract negotiations, Jones may find himself thrust into the limelight.
Collectors and fans alike must make decisions based not just on current realities but also on potential future outcomes. Though Jones’ memorabilia and rookie cards have languished in relative obscurity these past seasons, his arrival in the quarterback-friendly system concocted by Shanahan primes them for potential appreciation. It’s true that sliding onto the second string doesn’t push his artifacts into must-have territory overnight. But in the fickle world of collectibles, there’s nothing quite like the prospect of a starting role to ignite interest. If Purdy’s plans falter, or if his contract negotiations knot into complications, Jones’ stock—both on the field and in collector’s hearts—could soar.
The calculus becomes further complicated when you extrapolate on Purdy’s impending contractual situation. Purdy’s current charmed existence as a low-cost rookie starter has its expiry date fast approaching. His talents have outstripped his draft bargain value, making him a candidate for a meteoric raise. For Jones, this scenario presents an opportunity. If the 49ers feel a financial pinch or see value in maintaining flexibility, and should Purdy’s luck wane or production dip, Jones could very well inherit the lead spot. For the 49ers, known in recent years for intriguing quarterback maneuvers, a reassessment of the quarterback situation could follow suit based on necessity or opportunity.
Investors in sports memorabilia should take heed. The calm around Jones’ collectibles could merely be the eye of the storm. Early movers and shakers are often rewarded if the tides of fortune swing in Jones’ favor, particularly if he cements himself as a starting quarterback. For now, his memorabilia remains priced for the savvy speculator. But one only needs to look at the history of NFL careers disrupted and resurrected to understand that the distance between backup and starter is, sometimes, as thin as the paper on his new contract.
While Mac Jones arrives merely as Brock Purdy’s understudy, the whims of NFL fate could catalyze his ascent. In a city well accustomed to quarterback drama, the plot seemed less complicated for a while, resting firmly on Purdy’s shoulders. But true to the nature of San Francisco itself—a place of reinvention and perennial intrigue—Mac Jones’ arrival injects a fresh breath of possibility, both for the 49ers’ on-field plans and for a shrewd market eyeing sports collectibles that are just waiting for a captivating storyline to unfold.
