Backup San Francisco 49ers quarterback Mac Jones was already one of the most talked-about trade chips in the NFL this offseason. And with a wave of starting quarterback injuries hitting contenders and QB-needy teams around the league, his value may be climbing even higher.
Jones was a hot commodity for teams this past offseason after keeping San Francisco's 2025 season afloat when Brock Purdy went down with an injury in 2025. Appearing in 11 games and starting eight, Jones completed a career-high 69.6% of his passes for 2,151 yards, 13 touchdowns and six interceptions, leading the 49ers to a 5-3 record in his starts.
That performance reportedly had multiple teams calling, but the 49ers put an exorbitant asking price on him, believed to be a second-round
pick or more. No deal materialized; San Francisco instead gave Jones more money in the final year of his contract, and both he and the team were happy to run it back with Jones as Purdy's insurance policy in 2026.
However, a new wave of interest could change Jones' 2026 trajectory.
Several teams around the league are now dealing with real questions at quarterback due to injury: The Giants lost Jaxson Dart to a season-ending knee injury; the Commanders are navigating without Jayden Daniels after his dislocated elbow; the Bears are dealing with a Caleb Williams hamstring injury; the Vikings had a scare with Kyler Murray; Seattle's Sam Darnold has an injured hip; Atlanta has Michael Penix Jr. back healthy after injury, but both he and Tua Tagovailoa carry extensive injury histories that could resurface at any point.
Of that group, the Giants and Commanders stand out as the most likely to actually pick up the phone on Jones. Murray is back after a concussion, and the team seemed content with Carson Wentz as his backup. The Falcons likely want to see what they have in Penix before trying to add another quarterback to the mix, while the Bears have Tyson Bagent. The Seahawks have Drew Lock, and a trade with a division rival would likely never happen, anyway.
Both the Giants and Commanders, though, could be looking for short-term fixes to course-correct their seasons. The Giants are 1-1 and have a quality offense, while the 0-2 Commanders need an infusion of talent under center to keep their hopes alive in 2026.
Still, any move remains unlikely unless San Francisco gets an offer that clearly exceeds what Jones is worth to them as insurance. CBS Sports recently ranked Jones as the No. 2 backup quarterback situation in the NFL, behind only No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza in Las Vegas. It would take a lot to pry that sense of stability from a Super Bowl contender unless the 49ers are OK with Kurtis Rourke as Purdy's backup.
Jones is also an impending free agent, which complicates matters further. The 49ers may want to extract as much value from Jones before he inexpensively leaves in the offseason. However, given that the 49ers made it very clear they like having proven insurance behind Purdy as they chase a Super Bowl, it would take a truly desperate team willing to meet San Francisco's price for a deal to be done this season.
Regardless of what happens, Jones remains one of the best possible trade candidates ahead of the Nov. 10 trade deadline if a team wants to shell out a Day 2 pick to save their season.
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: As QB injuries pile up, Mac Jones' trade value keeps climbing
