The 49ers have a potentially valuable and expendable asset on their roster that could be traded this offseason.

There has been plenty of discussion surrounding backup quarterback Mac Jones’ availability this offseason, and while the veteran signal-caller, who is under contract with San Francisco for one more season, has stated he would be “happy” to return to the 49ers in 2026, and coach Kyle Shanahan shared in his end-of-season press conference he would be “very surprised” if Jones wasn’t on the team next season, San Francisco likely will receive some trade interest from quarterback-needy teams.

Could one of those teams be the Minnesota Vikings after a disappointing season for first-year starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy? ESPN’s Bill Barnwell outlined in his latest story a hypothetical trade that would send Jones and a 2027 NFL Draft pick to Minnesota for three total draft picks.

Vikings get: QB Mac Jones, 2027 third-round pick
49ers get: 2026 second-round pick, 2027 fifth-round pick (conditional), 2028 third-round pick (conditional)

“In this deal, the 49ers get a second-rounder for a future third-rounder,” Barnwell wrote. “There are also two conditional picks, which should help protect them if Jones blossoms in Minnesota. The 2027 conditional pick would trigger based on Jones’ playing time with the Vikings. If he starts four games in 2026, the Vikings send a fifth-round pick out west. If Jones starts 12 games, that gets upped to a third-rounder. And then, if Jones re-signs with the Vikings after the 2026 season and starts at least one game for the Vikings in 2027, the 49ers would land another third-round pick.

“If Jones spends just 2025 backing up McCarthy, the 49ers swap only the Day 2 picks. If Jones emerges as the long-term starter in Minnesota, though, the Vikings could send a second-rounder and two third-round picks to the 49ers — a price that Kevin O’Connell would surely be happy to pay for an upgrade at quarterback.”

If the 49ers could net a second-round pick in a potential Jones trade, they probably owe it to themselves to at least field offers from interested teams.

It’s unclear what Jones’ value might be on the trade market this offseason after an impressive showing in eight starts for San Francisco this season, but if a team were to match the 49ers’ potential asking price, there’s a high likelihood Jones, similar to Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold, could play elsewhere after one season as Brock Purdy’s backup.

Download and follow the 49ers Talk Podcast