T
he San Francisco 49ers are ready to attack the offseason. Despite a 12-5 finish and a return to the playoffs after a one season absence in 2025, the 49ers were never a real threat– suffering from the injury bug and seeing their season end in the NFC divisional playoffs. Now, the 49ers are ready to return to Super Bowl contention in ’26 but first need to get through a very important offseason.
Decisions will be made and several holes will need to be filled on the roster but one decision the 49ers will make this offseason is what to do with quarterback, Mac Jones. Signing a two-year deal last offseason to serve as Brock Purdy’s backup, Jones started eight games this season while Purdy dealt with a toe injury and shined, going 5-3 and keeping the 49ers in the thick of the playoff race until Purdy returned. Now, Jones is generating considerable trade interest from teams in need of a quarterback but signed through the ’26 season, and proving to be an elite backup, the 49ers may want to hold onto him. NFL insider provided an update on how things stand for a Jones trade, and suggested that it would take a lot for the 49ers to part ways with their insurance policy.
A Trade for Jones Would be ‘Astronomical’
The Athletic’s Dianna Russini sent out a tweet on Tuesday, March 10 and provided an update on the Jones’ trade situation. And while teams have called the 49ers, the asking price may scare teams away from making a deal.
“A few teams have called the San Francisco 49ers about QB Mac Jones, but many interested around the league describe their price as ‘astronomical,'” Russini tweeted.
In 11 games played this season, including his eight starts, Jones completed 69.6% of his passes (201-for-289) for 2,151 yards, 13 touchdowns and six interceptions, and showed all throughout his time on the field why he is a former first round draft pick. And with backup quarterback being arguably the most important position in football– behind the starting quarterback, having a good one is vital which makes sense why the 49ers are asking for so much in return.
Jones’ Career Thus Far
A star at Alabama, winning a national title in 2020 along with numerous other prestigious awards, the New England Patriots drafted Jones 15th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft– having the idea that he would be the long term successor to the legendary Tom Brady. And while he put together a strong rookie season in 2021, earning Pro Bowl honors and All-Rookie team honors while guiding the Patriots to the playoffs, the following two seasons were a struggle– leading to the Patriots trading him to the Jacksonville Jaguars ahead of the 2024 campaign.
In his lone season in Jacksonville, and playing out the final year of his rookie contract, Jones started seven games in place of injured Trevor Lawrence, completing 65.3% of his passes for 1,672 yards, eight touchdowns and eight interceptions. After the season, the Jaguars didn’t retain him, making way for the 49ers to swoop in and sign him to that two-year deal.
NFL Insider Provides Trade Update on 49ers Mac Jones