Despite mounting trade interest, San Francisco views the former first-rounder as vital insurance for Brock Purdy, demanding a premium return that likely keeps him in the Bay Area.
The San Francisco 49ers could have an interesting decision to make when the NFL trade deadline approaches, but one ESPN analyst does not expect the team to move backup quarterback Mac Jones.
Jones is entering his second season with the 49ers after joining the team last offseason, and his value to San Francisco appears to go beyond simply being Brock Purdy’s backup. While teams around the league could have interest in adding an experienced quarterback, the 49ers reportedly are not looking to move Jones for just any return.
ESPN’s Dan Graziano recently predicted that Jones will remain with San Francisco through the trade deadline, pointing to the organization’s high opinion of the former first-round pick.
“The 49ers value Jones very highly. They know they can win with him if something should happen to starter Brock Purdy,” Graziano wrote.
That belief is understandable considering what Jones accomplished when he was forced into action last season. He made eight starts and helped San Francisco go 5-3 during that stretch, throwing 13 touchdown passes along the way.
Jones was brought in partly because the 49ers wanted a dependable option behind Purdy, and his performance last season gave the team evidence that he can keep the offense competitive if the starting quarterback is unavailable. That makes moving him a much more complicated decision than simply finding a team willing to make an offer.
According to Graziano, the 49ers already received multiple inquiries about Jones during the offseason and expect more teams to show interest as the trade deadline gets closer. However, San Francisco reportedly has a specific level of compensation it would want in return, and Graziano does not believe another team will be willing to meet that price.
“The 49ers consider Jones an important part of their roster and believe they’re better with him than without him,” Graziano wrote.
That could ultimately be the deciding factor. If the 49ers view Jones as a legitimate insurance policy behind Purdy, a trade would need to provide enough value to justify weakening the quarterback room.
San Francisco may never receive the kind of offer that makes that worthwhile. Unless another team becomes desperate for a quarterback and substantially increases its offer, the expectation is that Jones will remain in the Bay Area beyond the trade deadline.
For a team with Super Bowl aspirations, having a proven backup capable of winning games could be viewed as more valuable than whatever draft compensation the 49ers might receive in a trade.
