Former first-round pick Mac Jones is under contract with the San Francisco 49ers, and quarterback-needy teams could try to trade for the veteran passer. After a promising rookie season with the New England Patriots, the quarterback struggled to do much of anything during his next two seasons under Bill Belichick. The Patriots ultimately traded him to the Jacksonville Jaguars and, after filling in for an injured Trevor Lawrence down the stretch, signed a two-year deal to be Brock Purdy’s backup in San Francisco.
This proved to be a smart career move for Jones, as the Alabama product started eight games last year. Guiding the team to a 5-3 record in Purdy’s absence, Jones completed 69.6% of his passes for 2,151 yards, 13 touchdowns, and six interceptions. Jones’ relatively limited physical tools mean he won’t fit in every offense, but he can execute a game plan when put in the right scheme. Players like that will generate trade interest from quarterback-needy teams, but Jason La Canfora says it would take a massive offer for the 49ers to trade Mac Jones.
“It’s a tough market to read this early in the process,” La Canfora writes. “I know that Kyle [Shanahan] doesn’t want to lose him. I think they’ll put up a pretty good fight. You’re going to have to knock their socks off.”
San Francisco 49ers Do Not Want to Trade Mac Jones
Assuming La Canfora’s report is true, it looks like Mac Jones will be a 49er for at least one more season. While he proved himself better than most backups, his failed stints in New England and Jacksonville show he cannot succeed in any environment. Additionally, he wasn’t nearly as efficient as Purdy last year, so he won’t compete for the starting job in San Francisco.
Jones is a bridge quarterback at this stage in his career, and a lot of quarterbacks of his level will likely become available in the coming weeks. With players like Malik Willis hitting the open market and guys like Kyler Murray, Kirk Cousins, and Tua Tagovailoa as cut candidates, why would a team trade a good draft pick for Mac Jones?
Jones will be a free agent following the conclusion of the 2026 season, and he may be able to land a starting job then. However, for the time being, it’s hard to see him leaving the 49ers.
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