Can the 49ers resurrect Mac Jones' NFL career? Pro Football Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe certainly believes so.
After San Francisco signed Jones to a two-year contract, the 26-year-old signal-caller now has the chance to work with coach Kyle Shanahan and benefit from playing in a quarterback-friendly scheme in the 49ers' offense -- something that hasn't always been the case during his four-year NFL career.
During a recent episode of the "Nightcap" show, Sharpe detailed why the No. 15 overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft wasn't put in a position to maintain success after a strong rookie campaign with the New England Patriots.
"I think Mac Jones was really good in his rookie season when he had an offensive coordinator, Josh McDaniels, in his ear," Sharpe said. "For some unknown reason to me, I think we're going to put two guys in his ear that has never called an offensive play in their lives, I think that will work out OK. And it was terrible."
Sharpe was alluding to the Patriots' bizarre decisiont to have longtime defensive coordinator and offensive line coach Matt Patricia serve as New England's defacto play-caller and offensive coordinator for the 2022 NFL season.
Jones earned Pro Bowl honors after throwing for 3,801 yards and 2022 touchdowns as a rookie, but saw his numbers across the board take a dip in his sophomore campaign among New England's puzzling offensive staff changes.
Sharpe explained that while he doesn't necessarily believe that Jones is the kind of quarterback who will elevate a team on his own, the former Alabama signal-caller has a proven track record when operating in an offense stocked with weapons -- something the 49ers are able to offer.
