Last offseason, the 49ers added Mac Jones on a two-year contract. That proved to be a worthwhile investment given the former first-rounder’s level of play when filling in for an injured Brock Purdy. 
Jones looms as a potential trade target given the dearth of other veteran passers in position to reach the market. However, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan recently made clear the team’s intention of keeping Jones in place for 2026. Cost-controlled passers are nevertheless a highly valuable commodity, and trade calls can be expected.
“Multiple” teams plan to at least reach out to the 49ers about a Jones trade, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports (video link). That would come as no surprise. The former Patriots first-rounder won five of his eight starts in 2025, setting new career highs in completion percentage (69.6%) and yards per attempt (7.4) along the way. Much of that has been attributed to Shanahan’s scheme, but a trade aimed at giving Jones another opportunity to operate as a full-time starter would naturally be compelling for any number of teams.
A high asking price would be required for San Francisco’s stance to budge. As ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports, it remains the team’s plan to keep both Purdy and Jones for 2026. The 49ers made a massive investment in Purdy last offseason, inking him to a pact averaging $53MM per season. An affordable QB2 will of course be key throughout the life of that extension. Jones, 27, is due $3.25MM for 2026 as things stands; that includes a base salary ($1.4MM) which would be highly attractive to quarterback-needy teams.
Per Pelissero, Jones and his camp could push for a “contractual adjustment” in the event a strong trade market develops but the 49ers elect to keep him. At least a moderate raise could be in store based on the Alabama product’s level of play in 2025. San Francisco has a history of agreeing to top-ups for several players with Shanahan and general manager John Lynch in place. It will be interesting to see if the list on that front grows relatively soon.
Especially if Daniel Jones remains in Indianapolis, the free agent market will not offer much in the way of starting-caliber passers. The 2026 draft, meanwhile, only includes one quarterback (Fernando Mendoza) seen as a first-round lock. That could drive up the asking price for trade chips like Jones, but it remains to be seen if the 49ers will be convinced to seriously entertain any offers.
lol they ain’t trading him Schefter reported earlier
They say that as a way to create more market and get what they want.
I’ve wondered why these teams just keep recycling the same old has beens and never wheres and don’t try some new names. Maybe some kid in junior college that got overlooked,or a really good arena QB. I remember a few years ago watching a video that a college QB made where he was throwing passes through windows into moving cars, tossed a football the length of a basketball court into the net and even threw a pass that opened the twist off lid of a beer. He signed a contract with the Bears or Green Bay and stayed on the practice squad for a few weeks, then nothing. Where’s the next Kurt Warner? Everybody overlooked Brock Purdy. There’s got to be some guy out there who’s good enough to play, but never got the chance.
I don’t think he will be traded because 9ers want a 2nd. Most teams are just going to offer a 4th or 3rd at best. As said every year the next QB class is suppose to be really good, why give up a pick when you likely want a qb in 2027? I think 9ers get a comp pick if he walks and the other rules line up to get one.
Wow. What a big story. Teams receive calls on most players.