One of the most intriguing storylines surrounding the San Francisco 49ers this offseason is whether they'll keep or trade backup quarterback Mac Jones.
While the former first-round pick still has one season remaining on the two-year, $8.41 million contract he signed with San Francisco last March, his play in place of an injured Brock Purdy during the 2025 season has made him a very desirable trade target for teams that could be looking for some help under center.
Jones went 5-3 in eight starts this past year and ultimately completed 69.6 percent of his passes for 2,151 yards with 13 touchdowns against six interceptions in 11 overall regular-season appearances, with his 97.4 passer rating ranking 13th among all NFL quarterbacks.
In their end-of-season presser last week, general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan made it clear that while they have no genuine desire to trade Jones during the offseason, they are open to listening to offers for just about any player on the roster.
And Jones is well aware that a trade could be in the cards.
It would undoubtedly take a lot for the 49ers to part ways with Jones, perhaps even a second-round draft pick. But in today's NFL, just about anything seems possible. So, if San Francisco does indeed move Jones, the backup QB slot will obviously need to be filled.
And to that end, there is a veteran set to hit the open market who knows the Niners' system quite well and could slide in seamlessly, that veteran being none other than Jimmy Garoppolo.
If 49ers move Mac Jones, a Jimmy Garoppolo reunion wouldn't be the worst thing in the world
Not every 49ers fan would get behind this move, of course, but a Jimmy G reunion makes all the sense in the world if Jones get dealt.
Yes, there are always injury concerns with Garoppolo, who just wrapped his second season as Matthew Stafford's backup with the Los Angeles Rams, who saw their 2025 campaign come to an end Sunday night in a 31-27 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship game.
But Garoppolo obviously knows Shanahan's system well. And there's no getting around the fact that the guy won a lot of football games during his five-and-a-half-year run in San Francisco, going 38-17 in 55 regular-season starts and winning four of six postseason games, helping the Niners to a pair of appearances in the NFC title game and an appearance in Super Bowl 54.
Furthermore, many may have forgotten how well he played in 2022 after Trey Lance suffered a season-ending ankle injury early in the 49ers' Week 2 matchup with the Seahawks, going 7-3 while completing 67.2 percent of his passes for 2,437 yards with 16 touchdowns against just four interceptions before suffering his own season-ending foot injury, which of course, opened the door for Brock Purdy.
Now, even if Jones goes, the likelihood of a reunion of Garoppolo is probably pretty low, as the 34-year-old seems to be content in his role with the Rams, who could easily just offer him another one-year deal to stick around.
But if he does become available and the 49ers do deal Jones, this is at least something Lynch and Shanahan should consider.