The Minnesota Vikings cannot be spendthrift in finding a capable veteran quarterback who is open to both competing and supporting J.J. McCarthy.
Minnesota was overly optimistic in Kevin O’Connell’s quarterback mentoring last offseason. The Vikings failed to get Sam Howell up to speed during the preseason and ultimately settled on signing Carson Wentz off the streets just days before the Week 1 opener.
They cannot make the same mistake twice and must find a quarterback with a higher floor this offseason. While many fans would like the Vikings to move heaven and earth to acquire names like Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson or Josh Allen, a tier below is more realistic due to limitations on cap space and draft resources.
Among quarterbacks in that tier is former first-round pick Mac Jones, who went 5-3 as a starter for the San Francisco 49ers this season. Jones averaged 195.5 yards passing and threw for 13 touchdowns and six interceptions in a game manager role, accruing a career-best 97.4 passer rating last season.
Speaking with local reporters on Monday, January 19, Jones said he views himself as a starter in the NFL despite being behind Brock Purdy on the depth chart.
Jones is pining for a real chance to compete for a starting job, but 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan put a damper on the chances of that happening for him this upcoming season.
49ers Trading Mac Jones Would Surprise Kyle Shanahan
On January 21, Shanahan spoke openly about Jones’ future in his end-of-season news conference.
Under contract through the 2026 season, Jones can only be acquired by trade, and the 49ers appear unwilling to part ways with him amid their issues with injuries at quarterback.
“You always listen to people with trade offers. We’re also not into getting rid of good players, so I’d be very surprised if Mac wasn’t around us next year,” Shanahan said.
Shanhan won’t stop other teams from calling, but San Francisco clearly sees the value in Jones and is taking every opportunity to create more leverage in trade talks.
Jones remains professional about the opportunity to learn more in San Francisco; however, his next chance of starting after fizzling out with the New England Patriots will require a team to have strong feelings about him.
What Would a Vikings Trade for Mac Jones Cost?
Currently on a two-year, $8 million deal, Jones offers upside affordability that Sam Darnold once had with the Vikings in 2024.
Over The Cap appraised his play for the 2025 season to be worth $11.2 million a season.
A first-round pick for Jones is out of the question, and a second-rounder is also lofty considering the small sample size and relatively modest performance in the 49ers system.
An early third-round pick for Jones would be a valuable turnaround for San Francisco and a good potential starting price in negotiations. Meanwhile, a Day 3 pick in the fourth or fifth-rounds would be worthwhile for the Vikings.
But realistically, for a deal to get done, both sides need to concede. A late third-round or early fourth-round pick in the ballpark of the top 100 in this year’s draft could be territory for a deal to be struck.
Another option could be a pick-swap like they did with Howell, effectively moving back 30 spots on Day 3 of the draft to acquire him from the Seattle Seahawks. A pick swap in earlier rounds could be enticing for both sides.
Top Vikings QB Target Gets Unfortunate Update From 49ers