The San Francisco 49ers have made it clear they would like to keep quarterback Mac Jones for the 2026 NFL season after he proved to be a capable backup to Brock Purdy.
Jones started eight games in 2025 while Purdy dealt with a turf toe injury, going 5-3 as a starter. He threw for 2,151 yards with 13 touchdowns and six interceptions, steadying the offense during a critical stretch of the season.
However, with several quarterback-needy teams around the league, the 49ers could face significant trade interest this offseason.
Could the Falcons target Mac Jones?
NFL analyst Brian Baldinger believes the Atlanta Falcons make logical sense as a potential trade partner.
"There's a team out there, I believe, that would have high interest in Mac Jones," Baldinger said Wednesday on Bay Area radio station 95.7 The Game. "I believe the Atlanta Falcons, now run by Matt Ryan—I think Matt Ryan looks at Mac Jones and goes, 'He can do, and has done, a lot of the things that I did to become a league MVP.'"
Baldinger suggested that if Atlanta plans to move on from Kirk Cousins and does not believe Michael Penix Jr. will be healthy for the start of the 2026 season, Jones could help the team compete in its division right away.
"I believe Mac Jones has value to a team like that—extreme value," Baldinger said. "So if I'm John [49ers GM] Lynch, I'm picking up the phone and calling Matt Ryan, and going, 'Matt, what do you think is his value?'"
What is Mac Jones' trade value?
Baldinger acknowledged his comments are speculative and not based on inside information regarding the Falcons. He also suggests that a first-round pick in return for Jones is unlikely. Atlanta doesn't have a first-round selection anyway.
However, Baldinger floated the idea of a second-round pick as realistic compensation, which might be enough to entice the 49ers.
"If a second-round pick for Mac Jones is out there, you might say, 'Okay, we'll take the second-round pick, and we'll go sign Kirk Cousins to be our backup. We'll go sign Geno Smith to be our backup,'" Baldinger said. "I think they can still find a backup quarterback that can support what Brock does, and if he goes down, we can have Kirk Cousins, a guy that Kyle's coached before and knows."
He added, "But a second-round pick, I might be interested in. You find a starter with a second-round pick that could be a defensive lineman, an offensive guard, a wide receiver. [Seahawks DB] Nick Emmanwori was a second-round pick. You can go find a stud starter in the second round."
Trade or extension?
Baldinger believes that a second-round draft pick would be hard to pass up. However, if no team is willing to give up that kind of draft capital, another option might be available for the 49ers—one that stabilizes the quarterback room for years to come.
"Otherwise, if I can't (get what I want), I would think about extending him right now and just saying, 'Okay, our quarterback room is stable. We're in good shape here going forward.'"
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