Now that he’s healed from his lingering turf toe injury, Brock Purdy is firmly entrenched as the starting quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers.
The 49ers are 4-0 since he stepped back into the starting lineup after missing six games in between Week 2 and Week 10.
In his absence, Mac Jones filled in admirably. He led the team to five wis nine eight games, and he may have played himself into a starting role in 2026 on another team if San Francisco opts to trade him.
Jones Will Have Some Suitors
GettySan Francisco 49ers QBs Brock Purdy and Mac Jones
The case could be made the 49ers would be better served holding onto Jones as insurance if Purdy gets injured again at any point next season.
Jones has completed 69.6% of his passes and thrown for 2,151 yards, 13 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. But given the number of teams that will need a passer next season, the draft compensation the 49ers could recoup for him might be too enticing to pass up.
ESPN’s Dan Graziano believes if San Francisco explores trade possibilities for Jones, there’s two teams that might be willing to pony up the kind of trade package it would need to part with the 27-year-old QB.
“Mac Jones is under contract with the 49ers for next year at $2.8 million, but the way he played in relief of Brock Purdy this season has people wondering what it would take to trade for him (and presumably pay him more) to come in and compete for a starting role,” Graziano wrote.
“There are plenty of teams with unsettled 2026 quarterback situations (Colts? Steelers?) that could look to a 27-year-old former first-round pick who has been through the Kyle Shanahan career rehab program as part of their potential solution.”
What Could the 49ers Get for Jones?
There will be no shortage of QB-needy teams in 2026.
The New York Jets, Cleveland Browns, Las Vegas Raiders, Minnesota Vikings, Miami Dolphins, Pittsburgh Steelers, Arizona Cardinals, and New Orleans Saints could all be looking for new starters, and Jones could be a solid option for any one of them.
“There’s going to be seven or eight teams that are looking for starting quarterback next year [that could call about a trade],” ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky said back in November. “He’s absolutely proven to be one of the best 32 quarterbacks on the planet.”
But what kind of return could the 49ers realistically get for Jones, a former first-round pick who’s under contract for a very affordable $4.2 million next season?
Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer wrote last month that he believes Jones could bring back a draft pick that’s high enough that it could tempt the 49ers to part with their backup signal-caller.
“Could the Niners get, say, a Day 2 pick in 2026 and maybe a conditional Day 3 pick in 2027 for Jones? It’s not out of the question,” Breer added.
If a team like the Raiders, Jets, or Cardinals—who all have selections in the top 10 picks—offer up a high second-rounder, it’s possible Jones could be playing elsewhere next season.
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