The Mac Jones trade rumors have been intensifying in recent weeks, and the latest report from NFL insider Mike Florio points to one team in particular as a likely landing spot in 2025: the Minnesota Vikings.
“There’s already chatter in some circles that, in the 2026 offseason, the Vikings will explore trading for 49ers quarterback Mac Jones,” Florio wrote on November 11.
Second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy hasn’t taken the step forward Minnesota has hoped for (at least not yet), and Jones has played some of his best football while filling in for an injured Brock Purdy in San Francisco.
With Purdy back and playing well as San Francisco’s unquestioned QB1, trading Jones in 2026 to a team where he can compete for a starting job makes sense.
A Closer Look at What Jones Has Done With the Niners This Season
GettyShould the Minnesota Vikings trade for San Francisco 49ers QB Mac Jones in 2026?
In nine games (eight starts), Jones has completed 69.8% of his passes for 2,151 yards, 13 touchdowns and six interceptions, posting a QBR of 61.3, which places him in the league’s top 10. San Francisco went 5–3 in his starts, and he impressed the coaching staff and his teammates alike with the command he showed operating Kyle Shanahan’s offense.
In today’s NFL, quarterback competency is a kind of currency, and Jones’ efficiency in 2025 — he’s netting 7.6 yards per passing attempt to go with a 103.2 passer rating — certainly qualifies as efficient. His contract status adds intrigue for any team interested in adding a potential starter.
He has a cap hit of just $2.3 million next year, per Over the Cap, with a base salary of $1.4 million.
“The Jones contract is an asset that can become a draft pick, or two, in 2026,” Florio added. “If the 49ers want to make a clear statement of support for Purdy, they’ll trade Jones and find another backup who can run the Kyle Shanahan system.”
Why a Trade for QB Mac Jones Remains a Definite Possibility for the Minnesota Vikings in 2026
For Minnesota, adding Jones to at least push McCarthy makes a ton of sense. Kevin O’Connell’s offense needs a QB who can operate with timing and precision, and Jones has shown he can do that in San Francisco.
“For the Vikings, it could make sense to bring in a veteran who would compete with J.J. McCarthy,” Florio also noted. “The top-10 pick in 2024 hasn’t done enough to have the presumed starter role next season. A true competition could force the issue, getting McCarthy to make the improvements that the Vikings want to see, or else. … Jones, whom the Vikings could have signed in 2025, could be the best option. The right choice to either light a fire under McCarthy or, if that doesn’t do the trick, seize the job.”
O’Connell has been nothing short of positive when discussing McCarthy, and it’s clear the Vikings want to make things work with him. But if J.J. continues to struggle over the remaining 11 games this year, a trade for Jones wouldn’t be a surprise at all.
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