The New York Jets may be staring down one of the more intriguing quarterback decisions of the offseason - and it could involve a name that’s bounced around the league but still carries some untapped potential: Mac Jones.
With the Jets holding the No. 2 overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, the conventional thinking might be to grab a quarterback early. But the situation isn’t that simple.
The top of the draft board is likely out of reach for the Jets in terms of quarterback talent, and while they could look to trade back or take a swing at someone like Ty Simpson or Trinidad Chambliss at No. 16, neither prospect is a slam dunk. That opens the door to another route: the trade market.
And that’s where Mac Jones enters the conversation.
According to a recent report, the Jets have been linked to the San Francisco 49ers quarterback as a potential trade target. Jones, now 27, served as a fill-in starter for the Niners in 2025 when Brock Purdy was sidelined with an injury - and he didn’t exactly shrink under the spotlight.
Jones went 5-3 in his starts, throwing for 2,151 yards, 13 touchdowns, and six interceptions. He completed nearly 70% of his passes (69.6%) and posted a 97.4 passer rating - solid numbers, especially considering the circumstances.
Of course, the elephant in the room is whether Jones’ success was a product of his own growth or simply the result of playing in Kyle Shanahan’s quarterback-friendly system. That’s a fair question. Shanahan has a knack for elevating quarterbacks, and it’s not the first time we’ve seen a passer thrive in his offense only to struggle elsewhere.
But what makes Jones an interesting case is that we’ve seen both ends of the spectrum with him. He entered the league in 2021 as a first-round pick (15th overall) by the New England Patriots and made the Pro Bowl as a rookie - a promising start that had many believing New England had found its long-term answer under center.
But the wheels came off quickly. His second season was rocky, and by Year 3, he’d lost the starting job to Bailey Zappe.
That led to a trade to Jacksonville, where Jones served as the backup to Trevor Lawrence.
In 2024, injuries gave Jones another shot - this time with the Jaguars - and he started seven games. The results were mixed: eight touchdowns, eight interceptions over 10 appearances. Not exactly the kind of stat line that screams “franchise quarterback,” but also not one that completely closes the door on his potential.
So here’s the real question for the Jets: is Mac Jones worth the gamble?
New York has already seen what instability at quarterback can do to a roster full of talent. The defense is playoff-caliber, the skill positions are improving, and the offensive line has shown flashes.
What they haven’t had is consistency under center. That’s what makes the idea of a reclamation project like Jones both intriguing and risky.
He’s still young, has starting experience, and has shown he can operate efficiently in the right system. But the Jets would need to believe they can build that kind of environment - or that Jones has grown enough to succeed outside of it.
It’s not a move that would come without scrutiny. But if the Jets aren’t sold on the draft class and don’t want to overpay for a bigger-name veteran, Jones could be a middle-ground option with upside. He’s not the sure thing, but he’s not a lost cause either.
The Jets are at a crossroads. And Mac Jones, of all people, might just be waiting at the intersection.