It's very odd to call former New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones a hot commodity after throwing 10 touchdown passes in 16 starts (three wins) since signing a giant contract extension that quickly became one of the worst such deals in NFL history, but that's the situation he finds himself in.
Jones is hellbent on signing with a contending team as a backup. Not only will it give him a chance to possibly play a role on a championship team, but it may also give him an outside chance at following the Baker Mayfield path and flexing his skill enough to earn a bigger role in 2025.
Contenders like the San Francisco 49ers had better take note.
According to Jordan Schultz, the Niners will need to compete with teams like the Lions, Ravens, Vikings, and Dolphins for his signature.
The 49ers could take a chance on a former top prospect in much the same way they did with Jimmy Garoppolo and Sam Darnold in the past. If Jones ends up signing a big enough contract in the 2025 offseason after San Francisco signs him, the 49ers would get an extra compensatory pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
49ers could get extra comp pick by signing Daniel Jones as backup
The Niners have benefitted from the compensatory pick system in the past, as they have received a few extra third-round picks Robert Saleh, Mike McDaniel, and DeMeco Ryans earned them multiple Day 2 picks. Executive Ran Carthon also contributed to that influx of selections.
With Brandon Allen suddenly forced into a starting role due to the injuries suffered by Brock Purdy, there's a path to Jones possibly getting some playing time. Going to a Kyle Shanahan offense could give Jones a better system to operate in than whatever the mess he was stuck with in New York was.
The 49ers would be in a win-win situation if they signed Jones. If he performs well enough to leapfrog Allen on the depth chart, they could sign a new backup quarterback with more short-term potential for 2025 and beyond. If they don't bring him back, Jones' next contract will help San Francisco get an extra draft pick.
Jones is the most low-risk signing a team could make at this juncture. He's going to have a job in 2025, and there's a chance that San Francisco can be the spot for a renaissance with Shanahan as the wise old sage who imparts career-saving advice.