San Francisco 49ers QB Mac Jones was one of the names to watch this offseason to see if any team needing a signal caller would make the Niners an offer for their backup QB.
Despite speculation about Jones, the former first-round pick didn’t move to a new team to become a starting QB. The 49ers likely see Jones as a valuable insurance policy should anything happen to their starting QB, Brock Purdy.
Jones showed last season that he can enter and keep the team afloat. During the 2025 campaign, Jones posted a 77.1 overall PFF grade, registering 2,151 passing yards and 13 touchdowns, and six interceptions on 316 dropbacks. Furthermore, he recorded eight big-time throws and 10 turnover-worthy plays.
With San Francisco holding onto Jones this offseason, 49ers reporter for NBC Sports Bay Area, Matt Maiocco, believes that the 27-year-old could stay long-term with the Niners.
“[The 49ers] have their top two guys and might even have their top three with Brock Purdy, Mac Jones, and Kurtis Rourke, who has gotten on the field and could be in line to be the backup in 2027,” Maiocco said in a May 13 livestream on his YouTube channel. “Although I’m not 100 percent convinced that Mac Jones will be signing somewhere else at the end of this season.
“I think there remains a decent chance that Jones is back with the 49ers as a long-term backup player because I’m not totally convinced that a team would be willing to pay him starter money even in 2027.”
Could Deeper QB Draft Class Cool Interest in Mac Jones?
Moreover, Maiocco points out that there will be a potentially much deeper QB draft class next year. As a result, demand for Jones might cool. Given the lack of free agent options and a thin draft class of signal-callers this year, speculation ran wild regarding Jones, but nothing led to a deal.
“Sounds like there was not much discussion at all regarding trades,” Maiocco added. “There will be teams that are obviously looking for quarterbacks a year from now, whether through the draft, which is expected to be a stronger quarterback class next year.
“Teams might also be looking for that placeholder type of player, the Kirk Cousins type, someone who can step in and start if needed while a team drafts a quarterback to eventually take over, similar to the Raiders situation with Kirk Cousins and Fernando Mendoza.”
What Will 49ers QB Mac Jones Do With His Future?
It will be interesting to see what Jones decides to do with his future after this 2026 season. Might be content with being a backup with the Niners and playing in a Kyle Shanahan system that gets the most out of him, or will he decide to parlay what he has learned with the Niners into a starting job?
Jones could take the Sam Darnold route, who spent time as a backup with the 49ers and then found success with the Minnesota Vikings after his time in the Bay Area. Darnold then signed with the Seattle Seahawks and won Super Bowl LX this past season.
The 49ers backup will have a major decision to make either this year, if he extends his contract with the Niners, or next year, when he can test the open market.
49ers Insider Gives Compelling Outlook on Mac Jones’ Future