49ers May Have No Choice but to Trade Mac Jones for 1 Big Reason

The 49ers may have to trade their backup QB Mac Jones due to their limited draft capital.

Apr. 4, 2026 at 2:51pm by Ben Kaplan

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The San Francisco 49ers may be forced to trade backup quarterback Mac Jones this offseason due to their lack of draft picks. Jones had a strong 2025 season filling in for starter Brock Purdy, but with the 49ers having just two picks in the top 125 selections, they could be compelled to deal Jones for valuable draft capital if a quarterback-needy team makes them an offer they can't refuse.

Why it matters

The 49ers have built a talented roster through the draft, so their limited draft capital this year could force them to make tough decisions like trading away a valuable backup QB like Mac Jones in order to acquire more picks.

The details

Last offseason, the 49ers signed Jones to a two-year, $7 million contract to be Purdy's backup. When Purdy missed time with a toe injury, Jones stepped in and helped keep the 49ers' season afloat. Now, with Purdy firmly entrenched as the starter, Jones' contract and strong play have made him an attractive trade target for QB-needy teams. The 49ers have said they plan to keep Jones, but with just two picks in the top 125 selections, they may be forced to deal him for valuable draft capital if the right offer comes along.

  • In 2025, Jones threw for 2,151 yards and 13 touchdowns to 6 interceptions in 11 games.
  • The 49ers pick 27th overall and 58th overall in the 2026 NFL Draft, then don't pick again until 127th overall in the 4th round.

The players

Mac Jones

The 49ers' backup quarterback who had a strong 2025 season filling in for starter Brock Purdy.

Brock Purdy

The 49ers' starting quarterback who was entrenched in the role despite Jones' solid play as the backup.

San Francisco 49ers

The NFL team that may be forced to trade backup QB Mac Jones due to their limited draft capital in 2026.

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What they’re saying

“'[San Francisco] has insisted pretty emphatically that it will not trade its intriguing backup quarterback after a strong season spelling starter Brock Purdy, but everyone has a price. If somebody becomes desperate for a signal-caller later this offseason, they could make the 49ers an offer they can't refuse. A draft-night deal can't be ruled out, either, for a team that has just two picks in the top 125.'”

— Brad Gagnon, Bleacher Report Writer

What’s next

The 49ers will have to weigh the value of keeping Mac Jones as a high-quality backup against the potential draft capital they could acquire by trading him to a QB-needy team.

The takeaway

The 49ers' limited draft capital this year could force them to make tough roster decisions, like potentially trading away backup QB Mac Jones for valuable picks despite his strong 2025 season. This highlights the challenges teams face in balancing short-term roster needs with long-term roster building through the draft.