Mac Jones Steps Up for 49ers, Could Draw Trade Interest This Offseason
The San Francisco 49ers have taken more than their fair share of hits this season-literally. Injuries have piled up across the roster, and yet, here they are, still in the thick of the playoff hunt.
Credit where it’s due: head coach Kyle Shanahan has once again proven why he's one of the sharpest minds in the game. But a big piece of the puzzle this year has been a name not many expected to hear much from-Mac Jones.
With Brock Purdy battling multiple setbacks throughout the season, Jones was called into action. And he didn’t just manage games-he delivered.
Over eight starts, the 27-year-old quarterback posted a 5-3 record, threw for 2,151 yards, 13 touchdowns, and six interceptions, and completed nearly 70% of his passes. For a backup QB stepping into a complex system, those are more than just solid numbers-they’re eye-catching.
Now, with Purdy reportedly back to full health, the question becomes: what’s next for Mac Jones?
Let’s talk contract first. Jones is under team control through 2026, with a manageable $2.8 million still tied to his deal.
That’s a bargain for a capable quarterback in today’s market. And when you combine that with his recent play and the fact he’s now been through the Shanahan quarterback development machine, it’s not hard to imagine other teams picking up the phone this offseason.
There are plenty of franchises with murky quarterback outlooks heading into 2026. Teams like the Colts and Steelers come to mind-clubs that have talent elsewhere on the roster but haven’t quite nailed down the most important position on the field.
A 27-year-old former first-round pick who’s shown he can operate in a high-level offense? That’s going to draw interest.
And it’s not just those two. The Dolphins and Cardinals have both made notable changes at quarterback this season, signaling they may be open to bigger moves in the near future. Whether that means they’d consider Jones as part of their plans is unclear, but the market for quarterbacks is always fluid-and always aggressive when someone flashes potential.
Of course, for any trade to happen, the 49ers would have to be willing to move on. That’s not a given.
Having a reliable backup behind a starter with recent injury concerns is a luxury few teams can afford to give up. But if the right offer comes in-and if San Francisco feels confident in its quarterback room moving forward-Jones could become one of the more intriguing offseason trade chips.
He’s already proven he can step up when his number is called. Now, the question is whether another team will give him the chance to do it as a starter.