Feb. 5, 2026, 8:45 p.m. PT
The San Francisco 49ers have several decisions to make over the coming months now that they’ve officially entered the offseason following a division-round loss to the Seattle Seahawks, who are representing the NFC in the Super Bowl.
Among those decisions is what to do with backup quarterback Mac Jones, who led the team to a 5-3 record in his eight starts while completing 69.6% of his passes for 2,151 yards, 13 touchdowns and six interceptions.
With Brock Purdy locked in on a huge deal and Jones with just one year left on his contract, many have speculated that the 49ers will try to trade the former first-round pick to get some value back in return before he leaves in free agency in 2027.
While there are a few teams that could be interested in acquiring Jones this offseason, Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine recently suggested that Jones could be a top trade target for the Arizona Cardinals.
“The Cards could look at Jacoby Brissett as the bridge quarterback who can get them through 2026, but there’s no upside there,” Ballentine wrote. “Targeting a quarterback like Mac Jones could ostensibly result in a Sam Darnold or Geno Smith-like resurgence after initially struggling to catch on in the league.”
Expert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.
San Francisco could send Jones out in a trade, get a draft pick or two in return and move on with Purdy as the starter and 2025 seventh-round pick Kurtis Rourke as his primary backup.
However, with a $3.07 million cap hit in 2026, Jones is the best insurance policy that money can buy. The 49ers will have to decide what’s more important to them – the potential picks or the safety that comes with having a reliable backup.
More 49ers: 49ers TE George Kittle shocks fans with impressive street performance