Adam Schefter’s latest NFL draft intel appears to have answered one of the quieter but more intriguing questions hanging over the San Francisco 49ers this week: Is Mac Jones actually a trade possibility, or was that just draft-season noise? According to Schefter, Jones is “not expected to go anywhere,” a notable update with the draft just days away and quarterback speculation ramping up across the league.
That matters because Jones had done enough in 2025 to make the idea feel at least plausible. When Brock Purdy went down with a toe injury, Jones stepped in for an extended stretch and kept the 49ers afloat, showing the kind of competence that can get backup quarterbacks discussed as trade options once teams start reassessing their depth charts.
Schefter’s item included a revealing anecdote from last month’s owners meetings. Asked why there had not been a stronger market for Jones, Browns coach Todd Monken said he could not comment on a quarterback under contract with another team, then joked that he would tell Kyle Shanahan to cut him and “then we’ll see what the market is.” The larger takeaway was clear: interest might exist in theory, but there has not been a real market pushing San Francisco toward a move.
Why Mac Jones became a draft-week talking point
Jones was never just another anonymous backup last season. After Purdy’s turf-toe issue sidelined him, Jones got a real runway, including a strong early fill-in performance against the New Orleans Saints. By midseason, he had logged a meaningful stretch of starts while Purdy dealt with an injury that Shanahan acknowledged was unlikely to fully heal during the season.
That is how this kind of buzz starts. Teams around the league are always looking for credible quarterback insurance, especially during draft week when not every club gets the rookie it wants. Jones’ 2025 tape at least gave rival evaluators something current to study instead of relying only on his uneven New England and Jacksonville stops.
Why the 49ers are not acting like a team eager to move him
The simplest explanation is the most important one: the 49ers just lived through a season that reminded them how fragile quarterback depth can be. Purdy missed significant time with the toe injury, and Jones’ value to San Francisco changed from theoretical backup insurance to practical in-season necessity.
That makes Schefter’s update line up with what Shanahan already has said publicly. When asked recently whether there was any point this offseason when he thought Jones could be traded, Shanahan answered, “No, there wasn’t.” NBC Sports Bay Area also reported earlier this offseason that the 49ers were not keen on moving Jones after the role he played during 2025.
Jones is also still on the affordable two-year deal he signed with San Francisco in March 2025. ESPN reported that contract was worth $7 million with $5 million guaranteed, giving the 49ers a relatively team-friendly veteran backup behind a franchise quarterback they clearly cannot afford to be without for long stretches.
What this means for the 49ers heading into the NFL draft
Unless something changes suddenly, the bigger quarterback takeaway for San Francisco is not trade drama. It is stability. The 49ers appear to be heading into the draft with Purdy as the unquestioned starter and Jones as the kind of backup they trust if the season forces them to use him again.
That does not make Jones uninteresting. In some ways, Schefter’s report does the opposite. It confirms that San Francisco views him as more useful on its own roster than as a draft-week asset to cash out. After the way 2025 unfolded, that is a pretty strong message.
49ers Send Clear Mac Jones Message Days Before NFL Draft