Mac Jones is embarking on a new chapter in his NFL career, signing a two-year, $7.5 million contract with the San Francisco 49ers. This move reunites him with Kyle Shanahan, a head coach who was speculated to have wanted Jones during the 2021 NFL Draft. Though Jones will step into the role of backup quarterback to Brock Purdy, this transition provides a fertile ground for multiple narratives, not just in the realm of football but also within the realm of sports collectibles.
In a flashback to 2021, the draft saw various rumors swirling around the 49ers about which quarterback they would select with their first-round pick. While Trey Lance ultimately became the choice, insiders, including Adam Schefter, had floated the rumor that Shanahan was quite keen on Jones. Fast forward to today, and Mac Jones finally finds his way to the Bay Area, albeit in a role decidedly different from the starter position that was once imagined for him.
Now, as he dons the scarlet and gold, many wonder about the domino effect his presence might cause, particularly for Jones’ sports cards and memorabilia market. Historically, any quarterback joining a Kyle Shanahan-led team tends to receive a warm embrace from collectors, even if, like Jones, they come on board as a backup. His cards might not currently be flying off the shelves, but there could be a modest bump in interest among collectors who are always on the lookout for future potential.
Still, don’t expect any overnight mania where Panini rookie cards or signed gear become instantaneous hotcakes. The quarterback is, after all, still a backup. However, the door for long-term interest remains slightly ajar. Should circumstances like an injury to Purdy or complications regarding contract negotiations arise, Jones might find himself stepping up on the field. This uptick in playing time could, in turn, create a spike in demand for his cards, making them a valuable find for collectors who hopped on the bandwagon early.
From the 49ers’ perspective, the timing of Jones’s signing raises some eyebrows, particularly when juxtaposed with Brock Purdy’s contract situation. Purdy, the surprising hero and face of San Francisco’s recent football success story, is inching towards a financial windfall now that his rookie contract is nearing its conclusion. The low-cost, high-yield nature of Purdy’s current deal has allowed the 49ers the kind of flexibility other teams might envy. Yet, as is often the case in the NFL, convenient arrangements don’t last forever.
Brock Purdy’s tenacious rise led the 49ers to a Super Bowl appearance, but his impending big payday forces the franchise to ponder its financial and strategic future carefully. As talented and promising as Purdy has proven to be, the specter of paying him a colossal contract lingers. Meanwhile, there’s the unavoidable fact that injuries are a staple in the NFL; Purdy hasn’t completed a full season yet, meaning Jones could be called to step into the limelight unexpectedly.
Does the acquisition of Mac Jones signal that San Francisco is setting up a plan B? Given the complexities of Purdy’s contract talks, Jones’s future prominence could offer them an alternative path. If Jones finds himself under center and performs well by all counts, the 49ers might seriously entertain the possibility of leaning on him as a more economically viable pivot rather than breaking the bank to extend Purdy’s contract.
For collectors in the sports memorabilia world, the timing might never be better to consider a speculative investment in Mac Jones’s rookie cards and other paraphernalia. Buying in now while the market is tepid could prove an astute move if Jones rises to occasion when it matters most. His collectibles could potentially swell in value should he morph from reliable backup to starting quarterback.
This acquisition adds yet another intriguing layer to the San Francisco 49ers’ well-known infatuation with quarterback reshuffles. Mac Jones’s entrance into this lineup, orchestrated by Kyle Shanahan, leaves the franchise and its fans to speculate and strategize about possible outcomes. While, for the moment, Mac Jones remains a backup, the volatile nature of the NFL ensures that change is always looming, promising that his role—and value—could transform dramatically in the blink of an eye.
