Despite a surprising offseason market, the 49ers hold onto Mac Jones as crucial QB insurance, not a trade piece, for draft weekend.
He might not be breaking new ground, but Adam Schefter reinforced what the San Francisco 49ers have been signaling for months: Mac Jones isn’t going anywhere.
According to Schefter (via 49ers Webzone), San Francisco has no plans to shop Jones during this weekend’s NFL Draft, noting his market “never heated up” over the course of the offseason.
That reality is a bit surprising when you consider where things stood just a few months ago.
While teams often look for a draft day steal at the quarterback position, the 49ers have viewed Jones more as a vital insurance policy than a trade chip. John Lynch has frequently pointed to the parity in the NFC West as a reason to maintain the best possible depth chart. In a division where one injury can derail a season, having a veteran with starting experience provides a level of security that a late round draft pick simply cannot offer.
Jones quietly rebuilt some of his value in 2025 while filling in for starter Brock Purdy, guiding the 49ers to a 5–3 record during that stretch. More importantly, he looked efficient. He completed nearly 70 percent of his passes and operated comfortably within Kyle Shanahan’s system. For a player whose career had stalled following his time with the New England Patriots, it felt like a legitimate reset.
Around the league, there were reasons to believe that kind of resurgence would matter.
Just look at Sam Darnold, another former 49ers backup, who parlayed his own turnaround into a championship run with the Seattle Seahawks. In a quarterback market constantly searching for stability, reclamation projects have become more appealing than ever.
But while that logic tracks, it didn’t translate into real traction for Jones.
Teams that needed quarterback help ultimately went in different directions. The Minnesota Vikings made a splash by acquiring Kyler Murray, while the Las Vegas Raiders brought in Kirk Cousins as a veteran bridge and mentor for a likely top overall draft selection.
Meanwhile, San Francisco never wavered publicly. The organization has consistently indicated it values Jones as a high-end QB2 and insurance behind Purdy, which is something that carries real weight for a team with Super Bowl expectations.
That doesn’t mean a move is completely off the table.
If injuries hit around the league during training camp or early in the season, the 49ers could revisit trade conversations. Quarterback demand has a way of spiking overnight, and Jones would immediately become one of the more appealing options available.
For now, though, don’t expect his name to come up during draft weekend. And unless something changes dramatically, it may stay that way well into the 2026 season.