Both head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch have said they'd prefer the San Francisco 49ers keep their No. 2 quarterback, Mac Jones, heading into 2026.
Yet that doesn't mean the Niners won't listen to offers for the fill-in quarterback who helped the Niners go 5-3 during Brock Purdy's injury absence last season. And this is apparent in light of San Francisco's notable list of roster needs heading deeper into the offseason. If Jones can command a decent NFL Draft pick in return, Lynch and Shanahan would happily move on from Purdy's backup.
Except there might not be as big a market for Jones' services as originally thought.
Mac Jones trade market has reportedly gone cold (and that's OK)
According to a report from The Athletic's Vic Tafur and Matt Barrows, trade conversations surrounding Jones have been relatively quiet.
Here's the full text from both insiders:
"The 49ers are not looking to trade Jones, with general manager John Lynch saying Tuesday that 'we’re a better team with him on it.' But they definitely expected to be tempted by a third-round-pick offer — if not higher. The Minnesota Vikings were supposedly very interested, and there were a few teams that also needed someone like Jones, who won five games for the 49ers off the bench last season and is still only 27 years old. ...
That leaves the Vikings, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets and maybe the Atlanta Falcons looking for a starter, but they very well might prefer a dirt-cheap option this year over trading for Jones and then extending his contract. The Vikings are said to be considering Anthony Richardson, Kyler Murray and Geno Smith — the last two of which are expected to be cut — as well as Kirk Cousins and Tua Tagovailoa to come in and compete with J.J. McCarthy. If the Arizona Cardinals can’t land Willis, they might even turn to Jimmy Garoppolo, who has ties with new coach Mike LaFleur.
"
Based on the report, it sounds like quarterback-needy teams are far more interested in landing stopgap options on the cheap, not trading for Jones with the likely expectation of signing him to a lucrative extension.
And not even another former 49ers backup's subsequent success with the Minnesota Vikings and Super Bowl-winning Seattle Seahawks, Sam Darnold, has done enough to change the approach teams will take under center.
That said, it's not necessarily a bad thing for Jones' market to go cold.
There'll be the initial scramble for available quarterbacks once free agency begins, especially following presumed releases of signal-callers across the league. Then, teams with remaining needs may turn to a notably light class of quarterbacking prospects via the draft.
Tack on injuries and such, and desperation may arise from the few remaining teams with unlikable quarterback situations, benefiting the Niners in the long run.
At least that's what San Francisco is hoping for.