The San Francisco 49ers could be wheeling and dealing this year. With major injuries at the defensive line and receiver, head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch might need to look around the league to shore up positions of need ahead of the NFL's trade deadline on Nov. 10.
However, one trade they likely won't make is with one of their own: Backup quarterback Mac Jones.
Quarterback injuries have piled up around the NFL this season, making Jones a hot commodity for teams desperate to keep their offense alive. But the 49ers aren't expected to cash in on Jones this year, according to NFL insiders Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler.
The reasons are simple: The 49ers value Jones as a reliable spot-starter if Brock Purdy gets injured again,
and therefore have a high asking price in any trade for Jones.
"It would take real draft capital — perhaps a Day 2 pick — to get in the door on Jones," Fowler wrote. "Brock Purdy is playing at an MVP level, but he also sat out seven games last season, with Jones filling in admirably. San Francisco could be there at the end if its aging roster holds up, so it makes little sense to deal Jones right now."
Jones earned his reputation in 2025. When Purdy went down with an injury for a couple of weeks, he kept San Francisco's season afloat. He completed a career-high 69.6% of his passes for 2,151 yards, 13 touchdowns and six interceptions, and Jones led the 49ers to a 5-3 record in his starts.
The Niners wanted a second-round pick for him this offseason but were happy to keep him as a backup. The downside is that Jones is an impending free agent, so San Francisco will likely lose him for nothing.
"The 49ers have said they aren't interested in dealing him, and I believe it would take a lot to change their minds," Graziano wrote. "But if someone gets desperate enough, who knows?"
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: One trade 49ers are unlikely to make in 2026
