March 6, 2026, 12:30 p.m. PT
The San Francisco 49ers took as mall risk last offseason, signing quarterback Mac Jones to a two-year, $7 million deal to back up Brock Purdy, and in ended up working out well, as Purdy missed time with an injury.
Jones appeared in 11 games in 2025 and started eight. He completed a career-high 69.6% of his passes for 2,151 yards, 13 touchdowns and six interceptions while leading the team to a 5-3 record in his starts.
Now, with a manageable contract, many are wondering if San Francisco will trade for Jones. However, according to The Athletic’s Zack Blatt, the asking price for Jones may be a little steep.
“The way Jones not only kept the 49ers afloat when Brock Purdy was injured but also thrived (ninth in EPA per attempt) was one of the more surprising stories of last season,” Blatt wrote. “Everyone is looking for the next Sam Darnold, and there might not be a better candidate than Jones — the 2021 first-round pick disowned by a team in the AFC East only to spend a year with the 49ers before blossoming elsewhere. The difference is Jones played meaningful snaps for the 49ers (Darnold didn’t), and San Francisco astutely signed him to a cheap two-year deal, so they hold his rights.
“He might be cheap financially ($1.4 million base salary), but he won’t come cheap in a trade: At the combine, multiple league sources said the 49ers are looking for a second-round pick plus more.”
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San Francisco has publicly said that they want Jones around for 2026, but of course, if a team comes offering premium compensation, they have to listen.
The 49ers also have Adrian Martinez and Kurtis Rourke on the record, who are both unproven in the NFL but could serve as backups for Purdy if someone meets the team’s demands.
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