Lynch reveals the 49ers' surprising stance on Mac Jones' future, hinting at strategic depth over immediate trade speculation.
With the 49ers in the thick of a playoff race and quarterback Mac Jones playing some of the best football of his career, talk around the league has already shifted to the inevitable question, Will San Francisco trade him this offseason? According to general manager John Lynch, the answer isn’t nearly as straightforward as many assume.
In a recent appearance on The TK Show with Tim Kawakami, Lynch addressed the rising noise surrounding Jones’ future. The conversation came on the heels of the 49ers’ bye week, a natural flashpoint for speculation, especially given Jones’ standout play in relief of Brock Purdy earlier this season. Jones led the 49ers to five wins in eight starts, prompting some fans and analysts to wonder whether the former first rounder should have been given a longer run as the starter.
But Lynch emphasized that discussions about Jones’ future are premature. When asked about the possibility of trading the backup QB, he pivoted to the franchise’s history of depth under center. As he told Kawakami, “We could always do something, but I think that’s a position — nobody exhibited this more than the great Bill Walsh. The more quality players you have in that room, that sets you up for success.” The callback to the organization’s quarterback lineage wasn’t accidental.
Lynch specifically referenced the era in which Steve Young spent four seasons backing up Joe Montana which was a period where the 49ers benefited immensely from quarterback stability, even if it meant keeping two elite players in the same room. He went on to affirm the team’s confidence in both quarterbacks, saying, “We obviously believe greatly in Brock Purdy… But Mac earned a lot of trust this year with the way he played.”
That trust is precisely what makes the situation complicated. Jones is under contract through 2026, a key detail Kawakami noted on the show. The team signed him to a two-year deal last offseason, learning from the Sam Darnold situation in 2023. Darnold revived his career under Kyle Shanahan, but because he was only on a one-year contract, the 49ers had no way to retain him once he signed a significant deal elsewhere. Lynch admitted the organization regretted that outcome.
Keeping Jones longer-term may avoid a repeat of that scenario, but the NFL is a value driven league. Lynch’s public comments acknowledging their openness, he said “I think you’ve got to keep your eyes and ears open to everything”, this sounds a lot like there is a place to leave the door open for trade conversations. If a team in need of a quarterback comes calling with a high draft pick, the calculation might shift quickly.
For now, though, Lynch insists San Francisco’s focus remains internal. “We’re excited about that room… we’ll figure out everything as it goes,” he told Kawakami, signaling that the organization views its quarterback depth as a strategic advantage rather than an excess to offload.
Whether that stance holds firm into the offseason remains to be seen. But for the moment, the 49ers’ message is clear that this speculation is just speculation and Mac Jones’ future in San Francisco is far from decided.