The San Francisco 49ers have been dealing with their own injury issues, but a cursory look around the NFL reveals that pretty much every team is dealing with its own injury issues.
The New York Giants may have suffered the biggest loss of anyone thus far, as Adam Schefter reported quarterback Jaxson Dart's injury on Monday night's game against the Los Angeles Rams is more serious than initially reported, and he may end up missing the rest of the season.
If that is true, then the Giants may be in the market for a quarterback.
That is why the Niners should be open to dangling backup quarterback Mac Jones in a trade with New York.
Jaxson Dart injury opens door to possible Mac Jones trade
There was an assumption that Jones would be traded in the offseason since he looked so good when he assumed starting duties after Brock Purdy missed half of last season, due to a turf-toe injury. San Francisco went 5-3 with Jones as a starter, and he completed nearly 70 percent of his passes for 2,151 yards and 13 touchdown passes along with six interceptions.
Jones' market reportedly never materialized, and the Niners were asking for a lot. They know how valuable it is to have a competent backup quarterback, so they weren't just going to give Jones away for nothing.
Now that a team has a very obvious need for a quarterback, though, it could allow San Francisco to see just what the Giants would be willing to offer in exchange for Jones. The NFC East seems to be pretty wide open right now. The Philadelphia Eagles are 2-0, but they barely beat the Tennessee Titans, so they are far from a juggernaut.
The Giants looked great in Week 1 against the Dallas Cowboys, so conceivably, as long as they have a competent quarterback under center, the G-Men could be competitive in that division.
What could 49ers get back from Giants in a Mac Jones trade?
How desperate are they for a quarterback, though? Would they be willing to give up Brian Burns, an edge rusher whom the 49ers could use to upgrade their defensive line? Probably not, because Burns is under contract for a few more seasons, and Jones is set to be a free agent after this season, but it's worth asking. Maybe Kayvon Thibodeaux is more reasonable since he is in the final year of his contract.
Obviously, it would be a risk if the 49ers traded Jones because, if Purdy went down, that would mean they'd have to turn to Kurtis Rourke who has never taken a regular-season snap in the NFL. Jones is a security blanket in case Purdy gets hurt, and they would be removing that by trading him.
Truly, the 49ers should only pull the trigger on a trade if they can get back a player who would immediately help them. Whether it's a wide receiver who would give them more depth or a defensive lineman who would boost a group that's been ravaged by injuries, the Niners would be smart to at least kick the tires and see if the Giants are desperate enough for a solid quarterback to be willing to help San Francisco's title hopes.
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