We’ve reached that time of the offseason where the days are long and the trade ideas are bountiful. For the Pittsburgh Steelers, the biggest conversation piece once again is what to do at the quarterback position. If the Steelers decide to peruse the quarterback trade market, Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine suggests that a Nick Herbig for Mac Jones swap with the San Francisco 49ers could be beneficial for both parties.
“The 49ers had one of the worst pass rushes in the league last season. The Steelers could need a quarterback if Aaron Rodgers decides not to return for the 2026 season,” Ballentine wrote.
The Steelers have plenty of money invested in T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith so the suggestion that Herbig could be used as trade bait is nothing new. The 49ers make as much sense as any team given their struggles rushing the passer in 2025. Though plagued by injuries, most notably to star pass rusher Nick Bosa, San Francisco ranked last in the NFL with 20 sacks in 2025.
If Rodgers doesn’t return, a pivot to the trade market could make sense for Pittsburgh given the weak QB draft class behind Fernando Mendoza. Mac Jones is one of the most interesting names on the market after his career-reviving 2025 season in San Francisco. Filling in for an injured Brock Purdy for eight games, he kept the 49ers’ season alive and posted a 5-3 record with 13 touchdowns and a 69.6 completion percentage.
“If the Steelers can use Herbig to find a potentially long-term answer at quarterback that would be a good use of his breakout season,” Ballentine continued. “If the Niners can turn their backup quarterback into the player that leads the charge for their next generation of pass rush, that’s a win.”
Reports suggest that the 49ers are not going to give up Jones for cheap, as they surely recognize the importance of a capable backup quarterback. The chance to acquire a 24-year-old player at a position of need coming off a breakout season is probably enough incentive for the 49ers to part with Jones.
For Pittsburgh, the first question that needs to be answered is whether Mac Jones is a legitimate long-term answer at QB. While Jones did play well in 2025, it’s fair to wonder how much of that success can be attributed to Kyle Shanahan. After all, it’s only been two years since Jones was unceremoniously shipped from the New England Patriots to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a sixth-round draft pick.
Perhaps Pittsburgh believes that whatever magic Shanahan worked with Sam Darnold in his one year with the 49ers has also helped Jones and the former first-round pick is next up to turn his career around.
The other question that Pittsburgh is faced with in this scenario is whether Herbig is expendable. Given the presence of veterans Watt and Highsmith and the investment in Jack Sawyer in the 2025 Draft, it’s possible for Pittsburgh to absorb the loss of Herbig. But knowing the importance of edge rushers to the identity of the Steelers’ defense, they won’t be eager to part with Herbig unless it’s for the right return.
Along with the Mac for Herbig swap, Ballentine suggests the Steelers also ship a sixth-round pick to sweeten the pot. Considering the value, Herbig alone should be enough.