Miami Dolphins v San Francisco 49ers
Miami Dolphins v San Francisco 49ers
The New York Giants needed a quarterback. They just decided it would not be Mac Jones.
New York acquired J.J. McCarthy from the Minnesota Vikings on September 28, sending a 2027 fifth-round pick to Minnesota for the former No. 10 overall selection, according to ESPN.
That price immediately creates an interesting question for the San Francisco 49ers.
The Giants had repeatedly been connected to Jones after Jaxson Dart underwent knee surgery that is expected to keep him out for the remainder of the regular season. San Francisco, however, has apparently maintained a steep valuation of its backup quarterback.
New York ultimately went shopping elsewhere, and landed a 23-year-old former first-round pick for a fifth-rounder.
For the 49ers, that makes their Mac Jones price worth revisiting.
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49ers Reportedly Wanted Much More for Mac Jones
San Francisco has never sounded eager to move Jones.
The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reported in March that teams interested in Jones described the 49ers’ asking price as “astronomical.” Subsequent reports have placed that price in the range of at least a second-round selection.
That stance has made sense from San Francisco’s perspective.
Jones went 5-3 in eight starts while Brock Purdy dealt with injuries in 2025, completing 69.6% of his passes for 2,151 yards, 13 touchdowns and six interceptions. He proved he could keep a contending roster functional when its starting quarterback went down.
General manager John Lynch reinforced that value after Dart’s injury when he was asked about Jones trade interest.
Lynch would not reveal whether teams had called, but his explanation was straightforward: quality backup quarterbacks matter, and the 49ers learned that firsthand last season.
There is a difference, though, between valuing Jones internally and finding another team willing to meet that valuation.
The Giants just offered a useful market comparison