Mac Jones, San Francisco 49ers
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(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
The San Francisco 49ers have a major trade chip on their hands with backup QB Mac Jones. Nonetheless, several teams need a starting-caliber signal-caller, and Jones showed during the 2025 NFL season that he can be one.
Jones had a passer rating of 97.4 with 2,151 yards, 13 touchdowns, and six interceptions in 11 games in 2025 when he had to fill in for the injured Brock Purdy,per StatMuse.
One of the teams that could be looking to secure Jones this offseason, if they can give the 49ers an offer they can’t refuse, is the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings are coming off a nine-win 2025 season and need more reliable play from their QB.
In an article published onMarch 2, NBC Sports’ Matthew Berry shared the rumors he was hearing during the NFL Scouting Combine.Moreover, when it comes to the Vikings and Jones,it’s a dealthat might not be happening.
“[The Vikings] are casting a wide net looking for a veteran arm that is NOT just depth but rather could potentially start for them and certainly bring real competition to McCarthy,” Berry wrote.
“They’ll take a look at potentially trying to get Malik Willis, trade for Mac Jones or sign Daniel Jones but the thought is that it’ll cost so much to get one of them that they would HAVE to make them the starter and be done with McCarthy, so they’ll probably go a little cheaper.”
49ers Have No Interest in Trading Mac Jones
The 49ers have said all offseason that they want Jones back in 2026. Moreover, Niners general manager John Lynch’s recent comments did not signal a change in that position.
“He’s really good for us, and we value that,”Lynch said. “And so somebody would have to come with something fairly strong for us to consider trading him. And then I don’t know what we do. Obviously, there’s always something that would make you do it.
“But I think we’re a better team with him on it. And we just like having him around. As we saw this year, your franchise guy goes down, and it’s nice to have someone like that.”
Should the Niners Consider Trading Mac Jones?
Before speculation regarding Jones ended with Lynch’s comments, at least for now, ESPN NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky believes the 49ers can command a high asking price given Sam Darnold’s success.
“There’s going to be so many places that are going to want a starting-caliber quarterback,”Orlovsky said during aFeb. 4 appearance on KNBR. “We know the draft isn’t deep. I think the No. 1 free agent is more than likely Malik Willis.
“If you’re the 49ers and you have these teams calling you, are you going to maybe get a second-round pick for Mac, a third-round pick? I have no idea, but I’m not going to be shocked by it.”
Moreover, Orlovsky believes that the Niners could use the assets from a Jones trade to get younger or perhaps use what they acquire in a trade to parlay it into a bigger move.
“I think that Mac in his camp will probably be trying to have a conversation with the 49ers to do right by him in that regard,” Orlovsky added. “I think the 49ers have to because of the reality of where their roster is, and they are getting older in some key parts and faced health concerns in the past. If you can get value for a guy now in comparison to very little for him next year, I think you have to entertain it.”