Mac Jones has gone from a discarded former first-rounder to a quarterback whose trade market suddenly looks a lot healthier.
That’s the twist Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox highlighted heading into Week 3, placing Jones atop his trade target list and suggesting the San Francisco 49ers could command a conditional second-round pick in 2027 if they ever decided to move him. Knox named the Atlanta Falcons and Washington Commanders as possible fits. It’s not a sign that a deal is imminent, but it does underline how much Jones’ stock has recovered since his days in New England.
The arc has been a strange one. The Patriots made Jones the 15th pick in the 2021 draft and, for a moment, it looked like they had their quarterback of the future. As a rookie, he started every game, helped New England go 10-7, and got the team into the playoffs.
Then the bottom fell out quickly. By 2023, Jones was having a brutal season, finishing with 10 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions in 11 starts. New England had seen enough by March 2024 and sent him to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a sixth-round pick.
Jones’ next stop was San Francisco in 2025, where he came in as Brock Purdy’s backup. When Purdy was injured, Jones got his chance and handled it well, going 5-3 in eight starts while throwing for 2,151 yards with 13 touchdowns and six interceptions. That performance is a big reason his name is back in trade conversations.
Still, a move away from the 49ers does not look likely. San Francisco plans to keep Jones as Purdy’s backup for 2026, and the team is in win-now mode with a Super Bowl push in mind.
Knox pointed out that the 49ers would be hesitant to lose a dependable reserve, especially with Jones set for free agency in 2027. He also noted that San Francisco reportedly asked for a second-round pick for Jones during the spring, which now frames the discussion around his value.
For the Patriots, Jones’ rebound serves as a reminder of how quickly quarterback fortunes can shift. New England moved on after three rocky seasons, and Drake Maye is now running the offense with Tommy DeVito behind him.
Maye helped the Patriots reach the Super Bowl last season, though he has thrown four interceptions through two games this season. After the Steelers win, Mike Vrabel said, “We have to do a better job and continue to do a good job of helping our quarterback be efficient,”
Jones’ current trade value does not change what New England already decided. It just shows how different a quarterback can look once the setting changes.
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