‘The Next Sam Darnold’ — Ex-Jets LB Urges New York to Pursue Pro Bowl QB Rather Than Drafting a Quarterback in First Round
· Yahoo Sports
Bart Scott has a quarterback recommendation that might require New York Jets fans to forget a few Sundays against New England.
The former Jets linebacker wants his old team to consider Mac Jones. He believes the former Patriots first-round pick’s time in San Francisco could make him an attractive option as New York considers its future at the position.
Visit syntagm.co.za for more information.
Bart Scott Sees Mac Jones as ‘The Next Sam Darnold’
In an interview published by R.Org on October 21, Scott questioned whether the Jets needed to spend a first-round selection on a quarterback in the 2027 draft. He suggested they could explore a second-round prospect while considering Jones as a veteran option.
“I think Mac Jones, being under Kyle Shanahan, will be the next Sam Darnold,”Scott said.
Scott also framed the idea in terms of cost. He estimated that Jones could command around $40 million, compared with the $60 million to $70 million figures he cited for top quarterbacks. Those figures were Scott’s projections, with no negotiated offer or agreement attached.
His broader argument was about preserving resources. Landing a veteran would allow New York to consider other positions with its premium draft capital. Scott even floated Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith as a potential option. Jones has appeared among theJets’ potential veteran quarterback options before.
DIVE IN:PFN’s Free NFL HQ — Team and Player Stats, Info, and More
Scott’s endorsement raises the expectation considerably. The Darnold comparison suggests he sees a player capable of changing how teams view his ceiling.
Jones’ San Francisco Production Gives the Idea Some Substance
Jones has already supplied evidence that he can play productive football in Shanahan’s offense.
During the 2025 season, he appeared in 11 games and started eight while backing up Brock Purdy. He completed 69.6% of his passes for 2,151 yards, 13 touchdowns, and six interceptions, finishing with a 97.4 passer rating. San Francisco won five of his eight starts.
IMPROVE YOUR TEAM:PFN’s Free Fantasy Trade Calculator
That stretch gives interested teams something meaningful to evaluate. The next question would be how much of that performance Jones could reproduce with different coaching, protection, and personnel.
Jones signed a two-year contract with the 49ers ahead of the 2025 season, putting him in the second year of that agreement in 2026. His next opportunity would depend on his availability and the market that develops around him.
Meanwhile, the Jets’ immediate problems extend beyond picking a future quarterback.
Scott’s interview preceded Sunday’s 28–25 loss to the Miami Dolphins. Geno Smith completed 23 of 30 passes for 287 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception in that game, yet New York still came away empty-handed.
That result illustrates the challenge facing any proposed fix. A quarterback can put together a productive afternoon without solving everything around him.
Scott is betting that Jones’ development gives the Jets a chance to address the position while improving the rest of the roster. For New York, the scouting assignment would be deciding how much of San Francisco’s version of Jones would survive the trip east.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.