49ers Put High Draft Price on Mac Jones, Making Trade Unlikely

Overview

• Multiple NFL insiders reported Wednesday that the San Francisco 49ers would likely demand Day‑2 draft capital, meaning a second- or third-round pick, to seriously engage on a trade for Mac Jones.
• General manager John Lynch declined to confirm trade talks and described the organization’s emphasis on keeping a strong quarterback room with Brock Purdy, Mac Jones, and rookie Kurtis Rourke.
• Jones’ value stems from starting eight games in 2025 when Purdy was injured and helping the team go 5-3, a performance that makes him a credible short-term starter for contenders.
• The New York Giants chose to acquire J.J. McCarthy for a fifth-round pick after Jaxson Dart’s season-ending injury, a move that illustrates how the 49ers’ price expectations can steer teams to cheaper alternatives.
• Because Jones is set to become a free agent after this season, the 49ers have leverage and teams facing injuries will likely only pursue him if they are desperate enough to pay meaningful draft capital.