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The San Francisco 49ers arguably have one of the NFL's strongest quarterback rooms, with Brock Purdy entrenched as the starter and Mac Jones serving as one of the league's most proven backups. In fact, without Jones, the 49ers might not have reached the playoffs last season.
Purdy missed eight games with a turf toe injury, forcing Jones into the starting lineup. The veteran responded by going 5-3, throwing for 2,151 yards, 13 touchdowns, and six interceptions while posting a career-best 97.4 passer rating.
Jones proved to be even more valuable than the 49ers could have anticipated, piquing the interest of other teams.
NFL teams reportedly inquired about Jones this offseason, but San Francisco's asking price was too steep. His performance in 2025 made him far more valuable to the 49ers than any offered trade package.
Although trade speculation intensified leading up to the 2026 NFL Draft, it appears unlikely that the 49ers will move Jones before the start of the season.
Of course, circumstances can change. If Purdy stays healthy and performs at his usual high level while another team suffers a quarterback injury, interest in Jones could quickly resurface.
Bleacher Report's Gary Davenport recently included Jones among five NFL quarterbacks teams should pursue right now. Even so, Davenport believes it would take a significant offer to convince the 49ers to part with their top backup.
"Jones arguably played the best football of his career last year," Davenport wrote, "and there were undoubtedly teams that reached out to San Francisco about him, especially after seeing what a stint in San Francisco did for Sam Darnold's career.
"The problem is that given Brock Purdy's durability concerns, the 49ers don't appear to have any real desire to move Jones unless another team makes a Godfather offer."
The 49ers' stance makes perfect sense. A reliable backup quarterback is one of the most valuable insurance policies in the NFL, especially for a team with legitimate Super Bowl aspirations.
Unless another team overwhelms the 49ers with an offer they can't refuse, most expect Jones to stay put. He could be the difference between another playoff run and a disappointing season if called upon again.
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