According to NFL insider Adam Schefter, the San Francisco 49ers have no intentions to trade quarterback Mac Jones. Yet, his name keeps coming up in trade speculation. Is there a chance the QB is dealt in the offseason?
Schefter writes, “Despite continued speculation, the 49ers have no plans to trade QB Mac Jones this off-season and fully intend to bring him back to back up Brock Purdy, per sources.”
The former New England Patriots first-round pick, who revived his career as Brock Purdy’s backup with the San Francisco 49ers in 2025, is suddenly a hot name in trade talks heading into the 2026 offseason.
Jones signed a two-year deal with the 49ers last year (through 2026) and stepped up big when Purdy was injured—winning five of eight starts. showing solid decision-making in Kyle Shanahan’s system, and posting strong stats that reminded teams of his early potential. He’s under contract for one more year at a manageable ~$4.7M cap hit, making him attractive as veteran QB insurance or a potential starter upgrade.
There is nothing imminent, as the 49ers have repeatedly said they plan to keep him as high-end backup depth for another Super Bowl push. But ESPN’s Bill Barnwell just dropped a juicy hypothetical trade proposal.
Barnwell’s Proposed Deal (49ers → Vikings)
In his pitched blockbuster trade, Barnwell suggests the following:
- Vikings get: QB Mac Jones + 2027 third-round pick
- 49ers get: 2026 second-round pick + 2027 fifth-round pick (conditional) + 2028 third-round pick (conditional)
He writes:
“This would be sort of a complicated trade, but the Vikings would be adding a quarterback who showed some of his upside in San Francisco. Jones posted a 62.3 Total QBR during his lone season with the 49ers, coming in a little more than 10 points behind Brock Purdy’s 73.0 mark…. And of course, we know that the Vikings have been willing to take a swing on quarterbacks who have gone through the Kyle Shanahan rejuvenation cycle before, having signed Sam Darnold after the now-Super Bowl champion’s only year in San Francisco.”
After a disappointing rookie year for J.J. McCarthy, they’re reportedly hunting veteran QB competition/depth.
Other chatter includes a few analysts suggesting the 49ers trade Jones for a second-rounder to give them more to work with at the draft. This is all just speculation and mock proposals as free agency and the draft approach.
Jones himself has said he’d love to start again somewhere, even if he’s admittedly happy in San Francisco.
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