49ers Standing Pat with Mac Jones, Shutting Down Trade Buzz Ahead of 2026 Season
If you’re a team in the market for a quarterback this offseason, you might want to cross Mac Jones off your wishlist - at least for now.
After a surprisingly solid stint filling in for an injured Brock Purdy last season, Jones looked like a potential trade target for QB-needy teams. But according to a report from Dianna Russini, the San Francisco 49ers have no plans to move the former first-round pick. The team is reportedly committed to keeping its current quarterback tandem intact heading into 2026.
And honestly, that makes a lot of sense.
Jones didn’t just hold the fort down when Purdy went out - he helped keep the Niners’ season from going completely off the rails. San Francisco went 5-3 with Jones under center, a stretch that came amid a wave of injuries across the roster. It wasn’t flashy, but it was efficient, and it showed that Jones, now 27, still has the poise and processing ability that made him a first-rounder back in 2021.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan seems to agree. Speaking with reporters last month, Shanahan made it clear he sees Jones as part of the team’s 2026 plans.
“Awesome conversations with [Mac Jones], just like I did with a number of players,” Shanahan said. “As any player on our team, including myself and John, you always listen to people and trade offers, but we're also not into getting rid of good players. So, I'd be very surprised if Mac wasn't around us next year.”
That’s about as close to a “he’s staying” as you’ll get from Shanahan - a coach who’s never been shy about roster churn when he thinks it’s necessary. But in this case, the 49ers seem to value the stability and experience Jones brings behind Purdy, especially after seeing firsthand what he can do in live action.
Of course, this isn’t exactly welcome news for teams like the Vikings, Falcons, and Cardinals - all of whom are staring down some major questions at quarterback.
In Minnesota, there’s uncertainty around J.J. McCarthy’s readiness, and ESPN’s Kevin Seifert has hinted the team could even be in the market for a full-on replacement. A player like Jones, with starting experience and a relatively low acquisition cost, would’ve made sense.
Down in Atlanta, Michael Penix Jr. is rehabbing a partially torn ACL, and while Kirk Cousins is technically still on the roster, he’s widely expected to be released. That leaves the Falcons in need of a veteran presence - someone who can either start or serve as a steady backup. Jones would’ve fit that bill.
And in Arizona, the writing appears to be on the wall for Kyler Murray. If he’s indeed on his way out, the Cardinals’ depth chart thins out quickly behind Jacoby Brissett. Again, Jones would’ve been a logical target.
But for now, the 49ers aren’t biting. They’ve seen what life looks like without Brock Purdy, and they’re not eager to roll those dice again without a proven backup. Mac Jones may not be the long-term answer for a franchise, but in San Francisco, he’s become a valuable insurance policy - and one they’re not looking to cash in just yet.
So, while the quarterback carousel continues to spin across the league, don’t expect Mac Jones to jump on anytime soon. The 49ers are holding tight, and for good reason.