Insider: If a QB goes down, the first call could be to the 49ers

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan admitted he was "really surprised" that no teams called during the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft to inquire about backup quarterback Mac Jones. While the 49ers weren't actively shopping Brock Purdy's backup, the team has made it clear that it is always willing to listen to trade offers.

The reported asking price, however—a first-round draft pick—was apparently too steep for interested teams.

Jones proved invaluable during the 2025 season, making eight starts while Purdy recovered from a turf toe injury. He finished the season with 2,151 passing yards, 13 touchdowns, and six interceptions, helping keep the 49ers in the playoff race.

San Francisco's decision not to lower its asking price could ultimately pay off. Quarterback injuries have a way of changing the trade market, and a contender that loses its starter during the 2026 season could become much more willing to meet the 49ers' demands.

That's exactly what Bleacher Report NFL insider James Palmer believes.

"If a starting quarterback goes down, you would have to believe that their first call is to the San Francisco 49ers for Mac Jones," Palmer said this week. "You would have to think that would be the first call that they make. This is a guy who played very well in the most popular system used around the NFL, which is the Kyle Shanahan/Sean McVay system. And he operated very well when Brock Purdy was out."

Jones posted a 5-3 record as a starter in 2025 and earned the respect of his teammates while helping keep the 49ers' offense on track during Purdy's absence.

Signed through the 2026 season, Jones could become an attractive trade target for a quarterback-needy team. His affordable contract only adds to his appeal.

"He's cheap," Palmer added. "I think he signed an $8 million deal, roughly, for two years before the start of last season. He's on the books for like $4.6 million this year.

"Now, the 49ers aren't just going to give him away, but that's my take on where you could see a trade, if a team is forced into trying to make that trade, and probably overpaying a little bit for a guy like Mac Jones."

Palmer also believes Jones understands that a midseason trade remains a realistic possibility if another team suffers a quarterback injury. The veteran quarterback acknowledged as much last week but emphasized that his focus remains on improving his game rather than worrying about trade speculation.

"And a lot of that was offseason talk, and anything's possible, right?" Jones said last week. "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."