The San Francisco 49ers did not do much of anything at the NFL trade deadline, but one team that was very active was the New York Jets.
Their activity could make them suitors for Niners quarterback Mac Jones this offseason.
The Jets swung two big trades, sending defensive lineman Quinnen Williams to the Dallas Cowboys and cornerback Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts. In return, they got three first-round picks and a second-round pick in the NFL Draft over the next few seasons.
It was a very big haul that could set the Jets up well going forward, but what if they opted to use some of those picks to shake things up at quarterback?
New York's quarterback situation is not ideal. Justin Fields does not seem to be the answer, and owner Woody Johnson openly criticized Fields recently. Gang Green ranks near the bottom of the league in points scored per game, so they clearly need to try something different.
They could try to address their need for a quarterback through the draft, but that is always a craps shoot. Year after year, we see teams expend first-round picks on quarterbacks, only to see them not work out.
Maybe a new formula is emerging to get a franchise quarterback.
Jets may look to Mac Jones to solve their QB problems in 2026
The 49ers have gotten great quarterback play for Mac Jones this season as he has had to fill in for an injured Brock Purdy for much of the year. Trading him during the season would not have made much sense, but Jones is under contract for next season as well, so it would not be a shock if the Niners receive a lot of interest in the signal-caller in the offseason.
Jones could follow the path of players like Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield. Both were, like Jones, first-round picks who flamed out with the team that drafted them before drifting around from team to team before settling in a spot where they have thrived. Mayfield has been great for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Darnold is looking like a stud so far with the Seattle Seahawks.
If the Jets were able to surround Jones with the right people, maybe he could follow that same trajectory to success in New York.
The 49ers would love to be able to wrest one of those first-round picks away from the Jets for Jones, and New York may be so desperate to figure things out at quarterback that they may even go for it.
Obviously, the Niners may also be wise to hold onto Jones for insurance next season, given Purdy's injury issues. But if the Jets are set on Jones as their guy, and the 49ers want to deal him, they may be in a great position to get him to a high draft pick.