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San Francisco 49ers‘ Mac Jones is one of the names floating in the trade rumor mill when it comes to teams needing a QB. Jones demonstrated he’s a capable starter in the NFL, stepping in for Brock Purdy after the Niners’ starting QB was injured during the 2025 season.
Jones had a passer rating of 97.4 with 2,151 yards, 13 touchdowns, and six interceptions in 11 games in 2025, per StatMuse. While the Niners don’t have to listen to offers, understanding the valuable need for a backup QB, they will undoubtedly receive proposals.
One team that’s being urged to consider making an offer to San Francisco is the Pittsburgh Steelers. On the Feb. 13 edition of The Athletic Football Show, co-host Robert Mays stated that the Steelers are better off having Jones as their QB next season than bringing back Aaron Rodgers.
“Everything about this makes me feel like I’m taking crazy pills,” Mays said. “The entire thought around the Mike McCarthy hire is like, ‘Well, now they can get Aaron Rodgers back.’ Why is that a good thing? Like what? How are you selling this as a positive to me?
“On the other end of it, Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers hit a dead end as a pairing eight years ago. Wasn’t two years ago. It wasn’t five. It was eight years ago… I would do anything else rather than the Rodgers thing because what is Rodgers going to make? He is going to command what he is going to want, at least like $10 million, right? There is just no argument. I would rather have Mac Jones [if I am the Steelers].”
49ers Have No Plans to Trade Mac Jones Despite Speculation
Even with all the speculation regarding Jones, ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter put an end to the speculation regarding Jones.
“Despite continued speculation, the 49ers have no plans to trade QB Mac Jones this off-season and fully intend to bring him back to back up Brock Purdy, per sources,” Schefter wrote on X on Feb. 8.
Nonetheless, it will be interesting to see whether a team like the Steelers tries to give the 49ers an offer they can’t refuse, especially as the 2026 NFL Draft nears in April. Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan has proven to be someone who can reset QBs that have struggled early in their career, with Sam Darnold and Jones being examples.
Should Niners Reconsider Listening to Offers for Mac Jones?
Before Schefter ended speculation regarding Jones, at least for now, ESPN NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky believes the 49ers can command a high asking price given Darnold’s success.
“There’s going to be so many places that are going to want a starting-caliber quarterback,” Orlovsky said during a Feb. 4 appearance on KNBR. “We know the draft isn’t deep. I think the No. 1 free agent is more than likely Malik Willis. If you’re the 49ers and you have these teams calling you, are you going to maybe get a second-round pick for Mac, a third-round pick? I have no idea, but I’m not going to be shocked by it.”
Eduardo Razo Eduardo Razo is a sports writer for Heavy.com, covering the NFL, MLB, and college football. He has previously covered the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB for NBC Sports Washington and NBC Sports Bay Area & California, and has freelanced for PSG Talk, covering Paris Saint-Germain. He also worked as an editor at Athlon Sports, focusing on MLB and the NFL. More about Eduardo Razo
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