The Cleveland Browns came into the 2025 season with a glaring question mark at quarterback - and 18 weeks later, that question still hasn’t been answered. If Cleveland wants to make a serious push in 2026, they can’t afford to run it back with the same QB room and hope for different results.
That’s where Mac Jones entered the conversation.
Jones, still under contract for one more year, looked like a smart, low-risk, high-reward target. He’s young, has starting experience, and after a rough stretch in New England, he found new life in San Francisco. Whether as a bridge to a future franchise QB or as a potential long-term answer himself, Jones made a lot of sense for a Browns team stuck in quarterback purgatory.
But here’s the problem: the 49ers aren’t exactly eager to let him walk.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan and GM John Lynch made it clear they value what Jones brings to the table. Shanahan said the team won’t move on from a good player just to make a move.
Lynch echoed that sentiment, adding that Jones makes the team better. Translation?
They’ll listen to offers, but it’s going to take a lot to pry Jones out of the Bay Area.
And that’s where Cleveland hits a wall. According to Browns insider Zac Jackson, the front office isn’t likely to overpay - and the Niners know what they’ve got.
Jones’ resurgence in San Francisco wasn’t just about stats - though those were solid, too. In eight starts, he led the team to a 5-3 record, completing 69.6% of his passes for 2,151 yards, 13 touchdowns, and just six interceptions.
He also chipped in 60 yards on the ground. But more importantly, he looked composed, confident, and in control - a far cry from the version of Jones we saw unravel in Foxborough.
That growth didn’t happen by accident. Sitting behind Brock Purdy and working in Shanahan’s quarterback-friendly system gave Jones a chance to reset.
He wasn’t just managing games - he was making plays. And in a league where competent quarterback play is at a premium, that kind of performance gets noticed.
Especially when it comes with a manageable $4.6 million cash salary and a $3.9 million cap hit in 2026, per Spotrac.
Still, there’s a business side to all of this. San Francisco just handed Purdy a massive extension, and he’s clearly their guy moving forward.
That leaves Jones, who’s entering a contract year, in a tough spot. He’d obviously prefer to start somewhere - and Cleveland, on paper, looks like a logical landing spot.
But again, price matters. And that’s where GM Andrew Berry has to make a tough call.
This year’s draft class doesn’t offer many sure things at quarterback. Taking one in the first round would be a reach, and packaging picks to move up could create more problems than it solves.
That makes a trade for someone like Jones - a proven starter with upside - the most stable option. But if the price tag is too steep, Berry may decide to look elsewhere.
Names like C.J. Stroud and Kyler Murray have been floated as potential alternatives, though neither would come cheap. And if the Browns don’t find a veteran solution, they could shift gears entirely - take a developmental approach with someone like Shedeur Sanders, and punt on the franchise QB decision until 2027.
That wouldn’t be the most exciting route, but it might be the most realistic if the Jones deal doesn’t materialize.
Bottom line: The Browns need a quarterback - badly. Mac Jones looked like a perfect fit, but unless the Niners lower their asking price, Cleveland may have to get creative. Whether that means drafting a project, chasing another trade, or rolling the dice on a stopgap, one thing’s clear - status quo isn’t an option.