News

Mac Jones is headed to San Francisco. The former first-round pick has signed a two-year, $7.5 million deal with the 49ers, reuniting him with Kyle Shanahan, who was rumored to be a fan of Jones ahead of the 2021 NFL Draft. While he’s coming in as a backup to Brock Purdy, the move has some interesting implications—both for San Francisco’s quarterback situation and for Jones’ collectibles market.

A Long-Awaited Move for Shanahan and Jones

Before the 2021 draft, there was serious speculation that the 49ers planned to take Jones at No. 3 overall. Even Adam Schefter reported that it was the original plan when the team traded up. But somewhere along the way, San Francisco fell in love with Trey Lance instead.

We all know how that worked out. Lance never secured the starting job, and seventh-round pick Brock Purdy took over and never looked back. Now, Lance is in Dallas, Purdy is the unquestioned starter—for now—and Mac Jones is finally in San Francisco, albeit under very different circumstances.

What This Means for Mac Jones’ Collectibles

So, what does this mean for Mac Jones' card market?

• Short-term boost – Anytime a quarterback joins a Shanahan system, there's at least a little buzz. Collectors know that Shanahan gets the most out of his QBs, so there’s some optimism for Jones.
• Not a huge spike… yet – Jones is coming in as a backup, so don’t expect his rookie cards or signed jerseys to skyrocket overnight.
• Long-term intrigue – If Purdy struggles, gets injured, or the 49ers hesitate on giving him a massive contract, Jones could find himself in a starting role at some point. And that’s when his collectibles could see real movement.

Could This Be a Sign That San Francisco Is Preparing for Life After Purdy?

This deal also raises some major questions about Purdy’s future.

• Purdy is due for a massive contract extension soon—and if the 49ers pay him, he’ll need to be one of the highest-paid players in NFL history.
• The 49ers have benefited from Purdy’s ultra-cheap rookie contract, but that cap flexibility is disappearing fast.
• Purdy has never played a full 17-game season, meaning there's a real chance we see Jones on the field at some point.

Could San Francisco be hedging their bets? If Jones gets meaningful snaps and performs well, the 49ers might think twice about giving Purdy a record-setting deal.

Time to Buy Mac Jones Collectibles?

While Jones isn’t a starter yet, his stock could rise quickly if the 49ers’ quarterback situation becomes uncertain.

• If you believe in his long-term upside, now could be the time to pick up his rookie cards, autographs, and memorabilia while they’re still relatively low.
• If Purdy misses time or the 49ers hesitate on a long-term commitment, Jones’ value could jump fast.

For now, Mac Jones is a backup—but if history has taught us anything about the 49ers’ QB carousel, things can change in a hurry.