The San Francisco 49ers have made their stance on Mac Jones clear: they would prefer to keep the veteran quarterback on the roster in 2026. Still, that hasn't quieted speculation about his NFL future.
San Francisco has consistently signaled a willingness to listen to at least trade offers for players. In a league where quarterback demand often outweighs supply, it only takes one desperate team to drive up the price.
According to NFL insider Jason La Canfora, the 49ers are still prioritizing retaining Jones. La Canfora adds that league executives believe the asking price to acquire Jones via trade could be more than most teams are willing to pay.
"However, executives from several teams looking at quarterbacks expect the 49ers to do all within reason to keep Jones as well, and believe the price it would require to obtain him in trade will be more than most teams would be willing to part with," La Canfora wrote for SportsBoom.
Jones revitalized his NFL career during his first season in San Francisco. The former first-round pick struggled to meet expectations with the New England Patriots and Jacksonville Jaguars, but he flashed upside in eight starts for the 49ers while filling in for an injured Brock Purdy.
Jones went 5-3 as a starter, throwing for 2,151 yards and 13 touchdowns while completing nearly 70% of his passes. His steady play helped keep the 49ers in playoff contention and reestablished his value around the league.
The 49ers control Jones' rights after signing him to a two-year contract in 2025. If viewed as a potential starter, his team-friendly salary for 2026 only increases his appeal to quarterback-needy franchises. La Canfora expects trade inquiries to surface.
"It's a tough market to read this early in the process," a high-ranking executive from a quarterback-needy team told La Canfora. "I know that Kyle doesn't want to lose him. I think they'll put up a pretty good fight. You're going to have to knock their socks off."
Another executive added, "You'd better be prepared to trade for a starter, and a top 20 starter, because that's what Kyle is going to say he is. They're going to hold out for a real (draft) pick."
If the 49ers do move Jones, it likely won't come cheap.
More info on: Mac Jones, Brock Purdy
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