It was almost a foregone conclusion the San Francisco 49ers wouldn't resign their (sometimes) starting left guard, Spencer Burford, after an up-and-down four years in the Bay Area that'll probably best be remembered for a massive whiff in the Super Bowl back in February of 2024.
Indeed, Burford left via free agency, signing a deal with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Despite Burford's shortcomings, the Niners nevertheless had a hole in the left side of their offensive line following his departure. Signing former Philadelphia Eagles reserve lineman might've been a fix, but having even more options was certainly part of the plan.
And that's where veteran lineman Robert Jones came into play.
According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, San Francisco opted to ink the 27 year old entering 2026 and after the initial waves of free agency calmed down:
Veteran guard Robert Jones is signing with the 49ers, sources tell The Insiders.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 24, 2026
Jones played in 49 games (30 starts) for the Dolphins before signing with Dallas, where he missed last season because of a neck injury. He’s healthy now and headed to San Francisco. pic.twitter.com/b5bsj5dEV0
While there may be suggestions of a competition to start at left guard between Toth and Jones, it's pretty clear the latter has an inside path.
Jones, who joined the Miami Dolphins in 2021 as an undrafted free agent, subsequently saw a former San Francisco offensive assistant, Mike McDaniel, take over as head coach in 2022. Interestingly enough, that's when the 6-foot-4 Jones ended up taking on a bigger role in the Dolphins offense, appearing in 16 games that season, seven of which were starts.
During his four-year tenure in Miami, Jones appeared in 49 games while starting 30 of them.
In 2025, he signed a one-year deal with the Dallas Cowboys but ultimately dealt with a neck injury that sidelined him all season.
It's pretty clear the 49ers eyed Jones for his knowledge of a similar offensive system, which suggests he'll have an inside track to take over for Burford at left guard. And while the eventual contract details will help indicate what his role is, the likelihood of Jones being a day-one starter for the 49ers is awfully high.