The Giants’ quarterback situation may have just turned the 49ers’ backup plan into a trade chip.
According to Adam Schefter, Jaxson Dart’s injury from Monday night’s game against the Los Angeles Rams is more serious than first believed, and there’s a real chance he could miss the rest of the season. If that’s the case, New York suddenly has a glaring need under center - and San Francisco should at least be thinking about whether Mac Jones can be part of the answer.
Jones looked good enough last season to create real offseason trade buzz. When Brock Purdy missed half the year with a turf-toe injury, Jones stepped in and helped the 49ers go 5-3 as a starter. He completed nearly 70 percent of his passes, threw for 2,151 yards, and finished with 13 touchdown passes and six interceptions.
Still, a move never came together. Jones’ market reportedly never fully developed, and the 49ers were asking for plenty.
That made sense. A reliable backup quarterback matters, and San Francisco wasn’t eager to hand one away for free.
Now the calculus looks different.
If the Giants are suddenly forced into the quarterback market, the Niners have a chance to test how far New York is willing to go. The NFC East, after all, does not look locked up.
The Philadelphia Eagles are 2-0, but they barely got past the Tennessee Titans. And the Giants, after looking sharp in Week 1 against the Dallas Cowboys, could hang around if they can keep competent play at quarterback.
The bigger question is what San Francisco would actually want in return.
Would the Giants really part with Brian Burns, an edge rusher who would fit what the 49ers need along the defensive line? Probably not, especially with Burns under contract for a few more seasons while Jones is set to hit free agency after this season. Kayvon Thibodeaux, who is in the final year of his deal, might make more sense, though that’s still a steep ask.
Of course, the risk for San Francisco is obvious. Trading Jones would leave Purdy’s backup spot to Kurtis Rourke, who has never taken a regular-season snap in the NFL. Jones is the safety net, the insurance policy, the guy who lets the 49ers breathe if Purdy goes down.
That’s why the Niners should only make a move if they’re getting back someone who can help right away. A wide receiver for depth or a defensive lineman to bolster an injury-hit group would at least make the conversation worth having. If the Giants are desperate enough, San Francisco should find out.
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