The San Francisco 49ers might not be done dealing with their quarterback room just yet.
Brock Purdy has already guided the team to multiple NFC Championship Games and a Super Bowl, and Mac Jones appeared to settle in during his first season with the 49ers. But with Jones now in the final year of his contract, his future in San Francisco has been a major offseason question, and a trade still feels like a real possibility if the right team gets desperate enough.
Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton recently pointed to the Carolina Panthers as a club that could come calling during the season.
“If Young isn't the guy, the Panthers should pursue San Francisco 49ers backup quarterback Mac Jones," Moton wrote. "The Athletic's Jeff Howe believes the 49ers could demand a first-round pick for Jones. If that's the case, the Panthers should inquire with the intent to make him their long-term starter, which would end Young's tenure in Carolina.
"Jones is three years older than Young, but he's shown the ability to perform at a high level with two different teams-the New England Patriots in his 2021 rookie year and the 49ers last season."
Jones and Young were teammates at Alabama in 2020 before Jones went to the New England Patriots in the first round. Young then took over as Alabama’s starter the next year and played his way into position to be the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL draft.
If San Francisco can land a Day-2 pick for Jones before he reaches free agency next offseason, that would be a move worth considering, especially if the 49ers like what they see from second-year quarterback Kurtis Rourke in training camp and preseason this year.
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Panthers Camp Has Turned Bryce Youngs Backup Job Into A Real Fight
Training camp has turned the backup quarterback job behind Bryce Young into one of the more interesting spots on the Panthers roster, with three names in the mix and very different paths to this point. Kenny Pickett arrives as the former first-round pick and the most established of the group, while Haynes King is trying to turn camp reps into a real foothold after entering the league undrafted. Will Grier is back in the conversation too, giving Carolina a familiar face in a competition that now has at least a little intrigue.
Pickett still looks like the safest bet to handle the No. 2 role, but the Panthers have more going on than just that pecking order. Kings development gives the team a useful wild card, and Grier is hanging around as the long-shot option in a room that could get squeezed once roster decisions start tightening elsewhere. Even if the backup spot seems to have a clear front-runner, there is still enough movement here to keep the quarterback picture worth watching through the rest of camp. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Fans Wont Love What This Says About Monroe Freeling
Monroe Freeling arrived in Carolina with first-round expectations, but the early picture around the rookie tackle is more about patience than immediate impact. The Panthers have had him working at both tackle spots, giving him a chance to learn the full scope of the position as he settles in and adjusts to the speed of the pro game.
For now, the bigger takeaway is that Freeling looks like a long-term investment rather than a quick fix. Carolina sees him as a developmental piece who could grow into either tackle job down the line, especially with the current starters moving toward future contract decisions, but that also means fans hoping for an instant fix may need to wait. [Read more 🡒]