Who Should I Start? Mac Jones or Brock Purdy

Friday, May 3, 2:28 PM

Unsurprisingly, the Jacksonville Jaguars didn't pick up the fifth-year option on new quarterback Mac Jones, who the team acquired in a trade with the New England Patriots this offseason. Jones was New England's first-round pick in 2021 but failed to make an impact as their starter under center. He went to the Pro Bowl as a rookie in 2021 but was merely a replacement player. Jones started all 42 games that he played for the Patriots, but the team went 4-13 in 2023 and Jones found himself on the bench for the final six games. The 25-year-old from Alabama regressed in each of his three seasons in Boston, but it didn't help that the Patriots were constantly bringing in new offensive coaches during his time there. Now in Jacksonville, Jones will operate as the clear backup to Trevor Lawrence in 2024.

Monday, June 10, 8:18 PM

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy feels better positioned for success heading into the 2024-25 campaign. Unlike last offseason, when the signal-caller was working his way back from an elbow injury, he has been training since the 49ers were defeated by the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII. "We got all the way to the end. We're right there and weren't able to finish it," Purdy said during an interview. "So for me, I had that taste in my mouth, and then get back into the gym, start slowly, working into it. And then here, in OTAs, getting with [head coach] Kyle [Shanahan] and going over all the games that we played in, every play, and going over situational football and stuff, and taking that and actually going out on the field and running things and repping things, and throwing to receivers. Last year, I didn't have that, so now that I'm able to attack those things, I feel like I've gotten better." Purdy finished the regular season by throwing for 4,280 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 11 picks while completing nearly 70% of his throws. It remains to be seen if the 24-year-old will be better than he was in 2023-24. But he's a viable fantasy quarterback in nearly all formats, even more so if Brandon Aiyuk remains with the Niners.