Who Should I Start? Mac Jones or Sam Howell

Wednesday, March 12, 10:10 PM

Free-agent quarterback Mac Jones agreed to terms with the San Francisco 49ers on Wednesday on a two-year deal worth $7 million with $5 million guaranteed, a source tells NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The maximum value of the deal is for $11.5 million. After one season with the Jacksonville Jaguars in which he appeared in 10 games (seven starts) due to multiple injuries to starter Trevor Lawrence, Jones will head to the NFC for the first time to back up Brock Purdy in 2025. The 26-year-old looked like a backup in his 10 appearances for the Jags a year ago, completing 65.3% of his 262 pass attempts for 1,672 yards, eight touchdowns and eight interceptions. If Jones were forced into significant playing time again in 2025 due to a Purdy injury, he'd at least be set up better with better offensive pieces around him in San Fran.

Saturday, April 26, 2:13 PM

The Minnesota Vikings have acquired quarterback Sam Howell and the 172nd overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft from the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for the 142nd overall pick, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The Vikings were in need of a backup quarterback after a busy offseason that saw Sam Darnold depart in free agency, leaving J.J. McCarthy (knee) as the team's presumptive starter. Ironically, Darnold went to the Seahawks, and Seattle also drafted Jalen Milroe on Friday, leaving Howell as the odd man out. Now, he'll bring his experience and leadership to Minnesota. It's an important addition for the Vikings given that McCarthy, who was last year's first-round pick, has not played a regular-season snap yet. He should start Week 1 this season, but Howell will be next in line if McCarthy suffers another injury or struggles.