The San Francisco 49ers’ signing Mac Jones to a two-year deal may prove to be one of the more prescient deals they’ve signed to date.

Jones started every game from Weeks 2 through 10, save Week 4, and kept the 49ers team afloat and alive in the playoff race. He went 5-3, which was better than anyone could’ve imagined, and certainly a step up from any other iteration of backups the Niners have played for a long stretch under Kyle Shanahan.

Of course, the 49ers need to be sure Brock Purdy is fully recovered from a turf toe injury that kept him out for much of the first half. While he’s technically under contract through the 2030 season, if the 49ers are unhappy with Purdy’s play or injuries at any point before April 1, 2027, they can get out of his contract.

But when you look at how smoothly the offense ran in Week 11 and how every player involved offensively talks about Purdy, it’s apparent he is the franchise quarterback for this team. And that makes Mac Jones somewhat expendable.

Jones will likely be the Sam Darnold of the 2026 offseason. If you’ve been watching college football, you know that most of the quarterbacks who entered this season with lofty draft statuses might return to school after disappointing seasons.

Every year, there are a handful of quarterback-needy teams. Some want to win now, while others need a Band-Aid to hold them over until the next draft.

Teams like the browns, Jets, Raiders, Dolphins, Steelers, and Vikings all figure to be in the quarterback market to some capacity. Others like the Saints, Rams, Cardinals, Jaguars, and Colts could find themselves wanting a signal-caller, too.

2026 NFL draft order – Current slot for QB-needy teams

New Orleans Saints – #2 pickCleveland Browns – #4, 19New York Jets – #5Las Vegas Raiders – #6Miami Dolphins – #7Los Angeles Rams – #10, 27Arizona Cardinals – #11Minnesota Vikings – #12Pittsburgh Steelers – #20Jacksonville Jaguars – #52Indianapolis Colts – #64

The Saints invested a second-round pick in Tyler Shough in the ‘25 draft, but that’s a sign that he’s hardly the long-term answer. Cleveland needs a franchise quarterback, but there may not be any available. Same with the Jets, Raiders, and Dolphins.

Getting a first-round pick for Jones feels like a long shot. The same is true for a second-rounder, since Jones only has one year left on his deal. But a third-round pick is feasible for a starting quarterback. It’d be nice if the 49ers could get one at the top of the third round.

As each week passes, Jones gains more and more value, even without playing. The Jets benched Justin Fields for Tyrod Taylor. Shocking, I know.

But where Jones might be most valuable is for teams like the Vikings or Steelers. Aaron Rodgers is on the wrong side of 40 and looks like a shell of himself. J.J. McCarthy looks like what I imagine Trey Lance would have if he hadn’t gotten injured against the Seahawks.

Like San Francisco, Minnesota has a playoff roster. Kevin O’Connell may not want to go through the growing pains of an inexperienced quarterback. Instead, go down swinging with somebody who has played the position and seen multiple defenses.

McCarthy seems like the most obvious answer, and the Vikings make for a seamless transition given the similarities in each offense. McCarthy could learn to process, use better footwork, and throw more than just a fastball from Jones.

In an offense loaded with weapons with an elite play-caller, it’s difficult to imagine O’Connell giving McCarthy another year if he continues to play the way he has through five starts. As of now, he’s 38th out of 38 quarterbacks in adjusted EPA.

The 49ers won’t be short on suitors for Jones this offseason.