The San Francisco 49ers may have found a diamond in the rough to start at left guard when they signed Robert Jones to a contract. There is a good reason to believe that the best is yet to come from Jones and he will present his best play with the 49ers. 

Did San Francisco 49ers find a starting left guard in free agency?

Jones was on an upward trajectory through the first four years of his NFL career. He had just 13 starts in his first four seasons, but he was regarded as quality depth. Then, Jones started 17 games in 2024. This earned him a contract with the Dallas Cowboys in free agency, but he broke his neck before ever getting to a chance to prove himself in a legitimate role.

There are obviously injured players to the 49ers joke to be inserted here, but the team has apparently cleared him to be healthy. More than that, a broken neck is more of a freak injury than something that would be recurring, like a hamstring pull. There is a chance that he is not quite the same player, but there is just as much of a chance that he gets back to his old ways after a setback. 

San Francisco 49er

Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

Jones will only be 27 years old in this upcoming season. He has 1,735 snaps as a left guard, 350 snaps at right guard, and 64 snaps at right tackle. The 49ers obvious glaring hole is left guard, and it is hard to see how they can add someone who will clearly start over him without him providing strong competition. 

Jones is the best starting option they have at left guard, and he is on an offensive line with a lot of continuity otherwise. He also may be the missing piece on an offense that is ready to fire on all cylinders. So, if he plays well in a role set up for him to succeed, the 49ers could extend him, and he has a real chance to hold down the job for the next couple of seasons. 

There is an obvious risk and that is why he signed so late in free agency. However, the cost is going to be low and the 49ers can still try to draft at the position. Still, it is hard not to think that Jones has a great chance to succeed here.