Among the decisions the San Francisco 49ers will have to make throughout the offseason, it sounds like trading Mac Jones is a possibility.
Jones proved when Brock Purdy was injured that he can be a starting quarterback in the NFL again, which he proved during the earlier stages of his career after being drafted in the first round and starting for the New England Patriots.
Unfortunately for Jones, the Patriots decided to go a different direction, and that doesn't seem to be the wrong decision with how well Drake Maye has played.
Sometimes, players aren't ready to start, and at times in New England, it seemed like that was part of the problem with Jones.
Nonetheless, he's played well with the 49ers, which might have earned him a chance to be a starter elsewhere if a team wants to make a trade this offseason.
Which teams make sense for Mac Jones?
According to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, one of the teams that could call in a trade is the Minnesota Vikings.
“The first thing you have to remember is that you’re trading not just players, but contracts. And Jones is under contract for $4.66 million for 2026. Having a starting quarterback at that number in today’s NFL is basically stealing. Add in the chance to franchise tag Jones in 2027 if things go really well, and there’s a ton of value there for a team looking for a bridge quarterback that they can win with.
“So where could he go? I’d look at teams such as the Vikings, Dolphins and Cardinals (the latter pending any potential coaching changes). In the case of Minnesota, it’d be a way to bring in competition for J.J. McCarthy and provide a layer of insurance at an affordable rate for a loaded roster, should McCarthy not ascend through the rest of this season,” he wrote.
The Vikings were one of the better teams in the NFL just a season ago, but allowed Sam Darnold to walk in favor of youngster J.J. McCarthy.
That doesn't seem to be the right decision right now, but it’d also be somewhat surprising to see the Vikings give up on a player they drafted in the first round just two years ago.
More 49ers News:
- Tom Brady loves college quarterback, could be sign for ex-49ers head coach Chip Kelly
- 49ers re-sign backup quarterback to roster after Brock Purdy's return
- NFC West standings: How Rams win over Seahawks, 49ers dominance changes division race
- 49ers' Mac Jones expected to draw trade interest, according to NFL insider