The San Francisco 49ers signed Mac Jones as a back up to Brock Purdy this year and it ended up aging quite well for them. Jones started eight games while Purdy was out with a toe injury and helped lead the Niners to a 5-3 record during that time.
With how well Jones performed during Purdy's absence, it makes sense that trade talks would be attached to his name. They were before the trade deadline, though San Francisco opted to keep its backup signal-caller, and they're going to continue into the offseason.
The good news for Niners fans, however, is that, it doesn't appear to make sense to trade Jones, at least not according to Jeff Howe of The Athletic. Howe did list Jones in the "Under contract... for now" category but explained that Jones sticking around makes sense for both sides:
"The Niners owe Jones $3.25 million in 2026, and Purdy has dealt with injuries in all four years of his career. Shanahan has been fond of Jones since the draft process, just watched him succeed in his offense and has him under control at a bargain-bin rate. Why in the world would he surrender Jones, considering all the reasons to keep him?"
"The Niners’ best strategy may be to keep Jones for another season and evaluate which QB is worth keeping from there.
But if they’re motivated sellers with uber long-term confidence in Purdy, the Niners should have an easy time moving Jones, and might even be able to start a bidding war for his services."
49ers fans will like what an NFL insider said about Mac Jones' future
Purdy has been playing better recently but, as Howe pointed out, he's dealt with injuries since taking over as the starter so having a reliable backup to fill in when he does have to miss time is important.
Fortunately, Jones checks that box.
Howe is correct in that if the asking price is right, the 49ers should consider trading their backup quarterback. That being said, the fact Kyle Shanahan was a fan of Jones' in the 2021 draft and now has seen him succeed in his system is also a big factor here because quarterback injuries happen and 49ers fans have now seen firsthand that losing Purdy didn't doom their season the way losing a starting quarterback would (and has) for so many other teams.