San Francisco 49ers quarterback Mac Jones is entering the 2026 season amid lingering questions about his future. Still, the organization has made it clear it wants him to remain on the roster under the two-year deal he signed last year.
Still, league chatter suggested a potential offseason trade was on the table if the right offer emerged. While some expected a move before or during the 2026 NFL Draft, the 49ers' high asking price ultimately kept interested teams away.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan was surprised by the lack of interest. After the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft was completed, Shanahan was asked if he still expected Jones to be on the roster during the upcoming season.
"Yeah," Shanahan responded. "I mean, I'd be real surprised if he's not. It also really surprised me that no one came and offered something, like today."
Jones recently appeared on The Rich Eisen Show with guest host Andrew Siciliano, where he was asked whether 49ers general manager John Lynch or Shanahan had discussed any trade scenarios with him this offseason.
"I think this is my number one question that I've been asked, and look, I love John, I love Kyle, the York family," Jones said. "It's the best organization, I feel, that I've played for in terms of just top-to-bottom greatness so far. And I don't like leaving good people, and I hope they enjoy having me there, and I'm excited for this year, to be honest."
With the draft now complete, a trade involving Jones before the 2026 season appears increasingly unlikely. However, NFL roster situations can change quickly, and quarterback demand across the league often shifts as injuries emerge.
If starter Brock Purdy stays healthy and second-year quarterback Kurtis Rourke continues to develop after spending his rookie year on the non-football injury (NFI) list, the 49ers could reassess their depth chart later in the season—particularly if a team elsewhere faces an urgent quarterback need.
For now, Jones remains focused on his role in San Francisco and his individual development heading into the season. Anything after that will figure itself out.
"And a lot of that was offseason talk, and anything's possible, right?" Jones continued. "I mean, the trade deadline's not until a little bit through the season, but I try not to keep up with it, and I really just want to keep getting better. I did play decent last year, I think I can play a lot better, which is what I'm striving to do this summer, is improve on my technique and see if that helps me and elevates me to get a big deal or something in the future.
"But, I always say, 'Be with your be where your feet are.' And, my feet are in San Francisco, and I like it a lot."
Jones also noted that communication with the 49ers has remained consistent and transparent regarding any potential trade discussions.
"They're all business guys, and I think that's behind-the-scenes stuff that's handled between agents, at the combine, and all sorts of things that happen," Jones said. "So, I've been in the loop on everything. The communication is clear, and that's all I care about, to be honest."
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