With the 2026 NFL offseason fully underway, one of the early emerging storylines revolves around the San Francisco 49ers and what they do with Mac Jones.
With a year in which the 2026 NFL Draft isn’t stacked with quarterback talent, it will lead to more teams looking ti make trades for backup quarterbacks, and Jones will be one of them.
If the 49ers do move on from Jones, they will need a new quarterback that can be the backup to Brock Purdy. This is what could open the door for the 49ers to trade for JJ McCarthy from the Minnesota Vikings.
Key Points:
The 49ers could trade Mac Jones in the
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Why The Minnesota Vikings Trade JJ McCarthy to the San Francisco 49ers
The first season for McCarthy in Minnesota went completely different than many expected. It seemed like the Vikings were confident in McCarthy taking over as the franchise quarterback. Enough so to where they let Sam Darnold walk in free agency.
McCarthy struggled, as he completed just 57.6% of his passes for 1,632 yards and 11 touchdowns while throwing 12 interceptions. With the Vikings in a spot where they are contending now, they can’t go through the development process with McCarthy. This will create a window of opportunity for him to be traded.
JJ McCarthy’s Fit on the San Francisco 49ers
Again, if the 49ers move on from Jones, they will need a backup quarterback. While McCarthy struggled in Minnesota, there are a multitude of reasons as to why he would fit in San Francisco.
A Seamless Fit in Kyle Shanahan’s Offense
Head coach Kyle Shanahan has shown he is a quarterback guru who has an extremely friendly offense to help develop quarterbacks. Over his time coaching, he has shown he thrives with quarterbacks who:
Shanahan’s offense isn’t built on high-volume hero ball. It’s built on timing, movement, and decision-making. McCarthy showed he had the ability to thrive in these areas while at Michigan, so the skills are there, they just need to be unlocked further. Shanahan’s scheme would help McCarthy get back on track.
Roster Construction Benefits
Acquiring McCarthy gives San Francisco:
A developmental successor on a rookie contract
Leverage in long-term negotiations
Protection against injury
The 49ers know they need a quarterback capable of producing results if Purdy has to miss time. McCarthy has shown that ability to a degree. He also wouldn’t have to start immediately, which gives him the necessary time to sit on the bench and learn.
A trade for McCarthy also gives them a cost-controlled quarterback who is still on a rookie contract, so the 49ers wouldn’t have to worry about taking on a massive contract.
In a league defined by quarterback leverage, adding a talented, system-friendly option like JJ McCarthy could be the move that keeps San Francisco in the Super Bowl hunt for years to come. McCarthy would provide them security at the position, with the ability to be packaged again in a trade down the line to gain more assets potentially.
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