The 49ers may hear plenty of interest in Mac Jones before the NFL trade deadline, but the idea of San Francisco actually moving him doesn’t sound especially likely.
ESPN analyst Dan Graziano doesn’t expect the former first-round pick to be dealt, and the reason is pretty straightforward: the 49ers think highly of him. Jones is entering his second season with the team, and San Francisco sees him as more than just a backup behind Brock Purdy.
“The 49ers value Jones very highly. They know they can win with him if something should happen to starter Brock Purdy,” Graziano wrote.
That’s not an empty compliment. Jones gave the 49ers real proof of concept last season when he was pressed into duty. He made eight starts, helped the team go 5-3 in those games, and threw 13 touchdown passes.
That stretch helps explain why San Francisco is treating him like a meaningful piece of the roster instead of a movable spare part. The 49ers brought him in to give themselves a dependable option if Purdy missed time, and Jones showed he could keep the offense moving.
Graziano said the 49ers already fielded multiple inquiries about Jones during the offseason, and that more teams are expected to come calling as the deadline gets closer. Still, San Francisco is said to have a specific asking price, and Graziano doesn’t think another team will step up with the kind of offer that clears it.
“The 49ers consider Jones an important part of their roster and believe they’re better with him than without him,” Graziano wrote.
So unless a desperate team gets involved and pushes the price up, the most likely outcome is that Jones stays put. For now, the 49ers appear content to keep their insurance policy in the Bay Area.
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