By all accounts, it seems as if the San Francisco 49ers are fully content holding onto backup quarterback Mac Jones for the upcoming season even though he seemed to be worthwhile trade bait earlier this offseason.
Jones' market has cooled dramatically, though, thanks to a whirlwind of a quarterbacking carousel. And the Niners have openly admitted they have no issue retaining QB as support to Brock Purdy.
Still, that won't stop speculative analysts and pundits from exploring would-be trade opportunities.
Prior to signing former Arizona Cardinals starter Kyler Murray, the Minnesota Vikings were seen as a plausible destination and Jones suitor. Murray's addition pretty much ruled that out, but it didn't stop Sports Illustrated analyst Mark Morales-Smith from revisiting a Jones-to-Minnesota trade scenario.
It's one that doesn't exactly jive, however.
Mock trade has 49ers trading Mac Jones to Vikings for J.J. McCarthy
Morales-Smith's mocked trade suggests San Francisco gets something out of Jones by sending him off for soon-to-be relegated-to-a-top-draft-bust quarterback, J.J. McCarthy, whose patience-seeking under head coach Kevin O'Connell seems to have run its course.
The 49ers get McCarthy back, plus a fourth-round pick. But, considering there's a good chance Jones would fetch the Niners a third-round compensatory selection if he ultimately departs via free agency in 2027, making this trade makes little sense, if any.
Even Morales-Smith acknowledged the difficulty in convincing San Francisco to do so:
"If things go well for the 49ers, McCarthy will have no fantasy impact because that means starting quarterback Brock Purdy remained healthy. However, if he were to go down with an injury, it would be a disaster for all their pass-catchers if McCarthy were the backup."
Also acknowledging how bad McCarthy has been, the only saving grace is suggesting head coach Kyle Shanahan could work wonders with the 2024 first-round pick.
Even that, though, is a hard concept to grasp:
"Kyle Shanahan is a guy who could think that he could get the most out of a former 10th overall pick and fix him. At least to the point that he's a serviceable backup. Similarly to what he did with Jones."
Why would Shanahan bother trading away a quarterback who's proven to be successful within his offense and is on an affordable deal while the 49ers' Super Bowl window remains wide open? Shanahan's ultimate goal is to hoist a Lombardi Trophy, not to develop flamed-out quarterbacks into starters.
Although it's impossible to deny the success there after doing so with Jones and now-Seattle Seahawks starter Sam Darnold, previously.
That shouldn't save the idea of a McCarthy-for-Jones swap, though, even if the Round 4 pick is a bit of a consolation prize.
At least it's a creative suggestion that'll get people talking.
Hat tip to David Bonilla of 49ers Webzone for the find.