There was plenty of speculation surrounding San Francisco 49ers quarterback Mac Jones this offseason. Many believed the team could trade Brock Purdy's backup before or during the 2026 NFL Draft. That never materialized, and Jones appears poised to remain Purdy's primary backup heading into the season.

Still, Bleacher Report's Moe Moton believes the 49ers should at least revisit the idea.


Moton recently identified one trade each NFL team should consider before the start of the 2026 season, selecting Jones as the 49ers' most logical trade candidate. While San Francisco reportedly sought a first-round pick for the veteran quarterback before the draft—a price considered too steep by interested teams—Moton argues the 49ers should lower their asking price.

Of course, if no team is willing to meet that value, keeping Jones on the roster remains the smart move.

"Because of quarterback Brock Purdy's injury history, the 49ers should keep Jones unless a team offers at least a second-round pick," Moton wrote.

Earlier this offseason, Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle noted that the 49ers could become more open to moving Jones if Kurtis Rourke, the team's seventh-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft who spent his rookie season on the non-football injury (NFI) list, shows enough promise.

Jones proved to be a capable replacement for Purdy last season when the starter missed time with a turf toe injury. However, with Jones scheduled to become a free agent in 2027, the 49ers risk losing him without receiving anything in return.


"Keep in mind that Jones is set to be a free agent next offseason and may chase an opportunity to start elsewhere," Moton wrote. "Coming off a season in which he threw for 2,151 yards, 13 touchdowns and six interceptions in 11 games (eight fill-in starts), he won't be able to increase his stock unless Purdy is on the sidelines."

Ultimately, the decision may come down to how confident the 49ers are in their championship aspirations. If they believe they're legitimate Super Bowl contenders, keeping Jones as one of the NFL's more experienced backup quarterbacks could be more valuable than the draft compensation they might receive in a trade. After all, San Francisco's offense remained productive with Jones under center during Purdy's absence last season.

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