49ers Explore Mac Jones Trade with Vikings

Potential deal would send QB to Minnesota for draft picks and prospect JJ McCarthy

Apr. 9, 2026 at 11:11pm by Ben Kaplan

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A cubist, geometric painting that deconstructs a football game between the San Francisco 49ers and Minnesota Vikings, capturing the dynamic energy and strategic maneuvering of the potential trade deal.A conceptual illustration depicting the complex negotiations between the 49ers and Vikings over a potential trade involving quarterback Mac Jones.San Francisco Today

The San Francisco 49ers are reportedly considering trading away quarterback Mac Jones, who stepped in admirably last season when Brock Purdy went down with an injury. According to sources, the 49ers are in talks with the Minnesota Vikings about a deal that would send Jones to the Vikings in exchange for draft capital and the promising young QB prospect JJ McCarthy.

Why it matters

The 49ers have a deep quarterback room with Purdy and Trey Lance, so moving Jones could allow them to recoup valuable draft picks to address other roster needs. For the Vikings, acquiring Jones would give them a proven starter to compete with Kirk Cousins and potentially take over the reins of the offense in the near future.

The details

Under the proposed trade, the 49ers would send Jones to the Vikings in exchange for Minnesota's 2024 second-round pick, their 2025 fourth-round selection, and the rights to backup QB JJ McCarthy, a highly touted prospect out of Michigan.

  • The 49ers and Vikings have been in trade discussions over the past several weeks.
  • A deal could potentially be finalized before the 2023 NFL Draft in late April.

The players

Mac Jones

The 24-year-old quarterback was a first-round pick of the 49ers in 2021 and started 10 games for the team last season after Brock Purdy's injury.

JJ McCarthy

A highly touted 22-year-old quarterback prospect out of the University of Michigan, McCarthy would be a key part of the trade package heading to San Francisco.

Brock Purdy

The 49ers' starting quarterback, who suffered a season-ending injury late in the 2022 campaign.

Trey Lance

The 49ers' former first-round pick at quarterback, who is expected to compete for the starting job in 2023.

Kirk Cousins

The Vikings' current starting quarterback, who could face competition from an acquired Mac Jones.

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What they’re saying

“Mac Jones is a talented young quarterback, and we believe he could thrive in our system. This trade would allow us to add more draft capital while also bringing in a promising prospect in JJ McCarthy.”

— John Lynch, 49ers General Manager

“We're always looking to improve our roster, and Mac Jones is an intriguing option. He'd provide us with a potential long-term solution at the quarterback position.”

— Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, Vikings General Manager

What’s next

The 49ers and Vikings will continue negotiations in the coming weeks, with the goal of finalizing a trade before the 2023 NFL Draft in late April.

The takeaway

This potential trade highlights the 49ers' depth at quarterback and their willingness to explore moving on from Mac Jones in order to address other roster needs. For the Vikings, it represents an opportunity to acquire a young, talented passer to compete with Kirk Cousins and potentially take over the offense in the future.