By admin 
The San Francisco 49ers have an enviable situation at the quarterback position. Starter Brock Purdy has always been objectively excellent, but in Week 1’s 27-7 win over the Los Angeles Rams, he mostly put on a masterclass and may be slowly starting to win over his many doubters.
Read more WNBA to Punish Former Team USA Star After Chicago Sky Game
Behind him, the Niners have Mac Jones, a man who could possibly be the QB1 on a number of other teams. Last year, when Purdy was sidelined for eight games with a toe injury, he filled in and played very well, to the point where some clamored for him to remain under center after Purdy was cleared to return.
Jones’ fine play resulted in rumors that he would be traded during the offseason. San Francisco was reportedly asking for a lot in return for the former No. 15 overall pick, and nothing materialized.
Those trade rumors haven’t disappeared. In fact, they could heat up a bit as the NFL’s Nov. 10 trade deadline gets closer.
Could there be real interest in Jones again before the trade deadline?
Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report listed the top 10 trade candidates in a recent article, and he had Jones at No. 1. He listed the Atlanta Falcons and the Minnesota Vikings as two potential suitors for the 28-year-old.
Atlanta has been without Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr., its top two QBs, due to injury, and it is unknown if Tagovailoa will be able to play this Sunday. Minnesota lost QB1 Kyler Murray to a concussion early in last Sunday’s win over the Green Bay Packers, and he may not be able to play in Week 2.
Read more SMU vs Louisville Prediction: An ACC Elimination Game?
The fact that Jones is in the final year of his contract adds to the urgency for the Niners to get something in return for him, if they do decide to trade him this season.
“The 49ers throttled the Los Angeles Rams in Week 1,” Knox wrote. “They look like a team that could make a Super Bowl run in 2026. As long as that remains true, San Francisco will likely be even less inclined to move backup quarterback Mac Jones than it was during the offseason.
“… The unknown is how long San Francisco will prioritize quarterback insurance over an intriguing return. Jones is practically guaranteed to depart in 2027 free agency. He could potentially net a big haul from a playoff hopeful in search of a starting quarterback. A conditional second-round pick that can become a first might be enough to get a deal done.”
Last season, Jones threw for 2,151 yards, 13 touchdowns and six interceptions and completed 69.6% of his passing attempts in 11 games. He started in eight games, and in those contests, San Francisco went 5-3 despite dealing with a number of key injuries.
As a rookie in 2021, he started all 17 games for the New England Patriots, made the Pro Bowl and took the Patriots to the playoffs. His stock dropped afterward, but it started to rise again in 2025 when he steadied the Niners’ ship during Purdy’s absence.
Read more Rookie Shay Ciezki sparks Mercury’s rally past Fire
Copyright 2026 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
This story was originally published September 17, 2026 at 9:45 PM.