The San Francisco 49ers may expect Mac Jones to return in 2026—but that hasn't stopped speculation about a possible offseason trade.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan recently expressed confidence that Jones will remain on the roster, while refraining from completely shutting the door on a potential trade.
"As with any player on our team, including myself and [GM] John [Lynch], you always listen to people with trade offers, but we're also not into getting rid of good players," Shanahan said. "And so, I'd be very surprised if Mac wasn't around us next year."
Still, if a quarterback-needy team becomes aggressive enough, the 49ers could be forced to consider a significant offer.
Matt Barrows of The Athletic believes there will be meaningful interest in Jones and isn't ready to assume the quarterback will be in San Francisco next season. In a recent mailbag, Barrows pointed to Sam Darnold's resurgence with the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks as a potential blueprint for teams seeking veteran stability at quarterback.
Why gamble on a rookie quarterback when a team could acquire an experienced signal-caller and use its draft capital to build around him?
"Jones doesn't have Darnold's arm," Barrows wrote. "But his processing skills are better than Darnold's, and he was extremely well-liked in the 49ers' locker room this year. I'm not saying Darnold wasn't when he was in San Francisco in 2023. Jones, however, has rare charisma, and it's easy to see him leading a team.
"Bottom line: I think the trade market for Jones will be robust, and there's a good chance they'll get an offer they can't refuse."
Jones, for his part, appears ready for any outcome.
"I love the 49ers, so if I'm here, I'm going to be happy, and if something happens, we know what I can do," Jones said. "I proved that this year, and when I've had the right situation, I feel like I've proved that. So, I'm excited for it. As you know, it's a waiting game [filled with] unpredictability."
Jones started eight games in 2025 while Brock Purdy was sidelined with a turf toe injury. The 27-year-old finished with 2,151 passing yards, 13 touchdowns, and six interceptions, compiling a 5-3 record as a starter.
Asked what a "can't refuse" offer for Jones might look like, Barrows wrote, "A second-rounder. Or maybe a third and a sweetener (another pick/player)?"
With Purdy set as the franchise quarterback, the 49ers face an offseason question: do they keep one of the NFL's better backup options or capitalize on a potentially strong trade market?